Dennis Miracles Aboagye, aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has strongly criticised the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to rerun parliamentary elections in 19 polling stations within the Ablekuma North Constituency, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent that could undermine the integrity of Ghana’s electoral system.
Appearing on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, Aboagye cautioned that the EC’s decision could encourage politically motivated disruptions during future elections, as parties might now resort to creating chaos with the expectation of securing a rerun.
“What this Ablekuma North scenario is saying is that if an election doesn’t go your way, all you have to do is disrupt the process, destroy materials, and the system will reward that with a rerun,” he argued. “Imagine what would happen if every party adopted this approach moving forward.”
The EC’s decision has drawn sharp reactions from the political landscape. While the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has welcomed the rerun, claiming it won the seat during the December 7, 2024 election, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has flatly rejected the process, accusing the EC of contempt of court and electoral manipulation.
Aboagye used his own constituency, Akuapem North, as an example, suggesting that if this precedent is allowed to stand, any party could intentionally disrupt elections in areas they are likely to lose just to force reruns.
“This is not just bad for the NPP or the NDC — it’s bad for democracy,” he emphasized.
Echoing similar concerns, NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong on Tuesday reaffirmed the party’s refusal to participate in the rerun, maintaining that their candidate, Nana Akua Afriyie, legitimately won the parliamentary seat with a 414-vote margin.
“The NPP is resolute. Nana Akua Afriyie won based on verified results. We will not partake in any rerun,” Kodua declared. He further urged the Electoral Commission to comply with a court directive by completing the collation process and officially declaring Afriyie as the elected Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North.
The controversy continues to escalate, with growing calls for transparency, restraint, and a bipartisan effort to address emerging challenges facing Ghana’s electoral system.
