Perpetrators in Ablekuma North rerun violence will be severely punished – Muntaka

The government has vowed to crack down on individuals involved in the violent disturbances that marred the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun, with Interior Minister Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka warning that no one will be spared, regardless of political affiliation.

Speaking during Day One of the Government Accountability Series on Monday, July 14, Muntaka assured the public that perpetrators of the chaos witnessed at various polling centres will be held accountable under the law.

He emphasized that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has been directed to act swiftly on video evidence and eyewitness reports emerging from the violent incidents, which disrupted the electoral process last Friday.

“I can assure you that not my party, not any group, will we sit and allow to see the resurgence of vigilantism,” the Interior Minister stated. “I have spoken to the IGP firmly on all the happenings in the Ablekuma North. Videos have been forwarded to him, and we have instructed him to act swiftly to bring the perpetrators to book.”

Muntaka insisted that the era of political thuggery has no place in Ghana’s democracy and made it clear that under President John Dramani Mahama’s leadership, no political group will be allowed to operate outside the boundaries of the law.

“We’re not going to condone—whether people within our party or outside our party—going around to do the untoward,” he added.

The parliamentary rerun, held on July 11 across 19 polling stations, was necessitated by unresolved verification issues during the December 2024 general elections, which left the constituency without a Member of Parliament.

Though the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had initially resisted the rerun, it eventually participated after the court dismissed its injunction bid.

However, the rerun was marred by several violent incidents. At the Odorkor Methodist Church polling station, NPP’s Hawa Koomson was allegedly assaulted and in the process reportedly discharged pepper spray, forcing voting to be temporarily halted.

Later in the day, chaos erupted at the St. Peter’s polling station when suspected political thugs stormed the venue and attacked party agents and journalists.

Reports indicate that NPP candidate Nana Akua Afriyie and a female polling agent suffered facial injuries, while Hawa Koomson was again caught in the melee.

The Electoral Commission, at the end of the day declared Ewurabena Aubynn of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the winner of the rerun, finally restoring parliamentary representation to the Ablekuma North constituency.

The Ministry of Interior has reiterated its commitment to upholding law and order, assuring the public that those responsible for the violence will be dealt with decisively.