Legal and political voices are reigniting calls for accountability over the unresolved violence during the 2019 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, following the fresh chaos that marred the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun on Friday, July 11, 2025.
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has called for the full implementation of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Commission of Inquiry report before any meaningful discussion can be had about the Ablekuma North incident. Speaking on TV3’s Key Points on Saturday, July 12, Kpebu emphasized that justice delayed in the 2019 incident has emboldened further electoral violence.
“I’m not equalising anything, but when I saw what happened in Ablekuma North, my mind went to Ayawaso West Wuogon. That report is gathering dust. Those who were supposed to receive compensation were left out. This is the impunity we’ve talked about,” Kpebu said. “Take up the Ayawaso report and act on it. Otherwise, this one can’t even go to court.”
His sentiment was echoed by Ningo-Prampram MP Samuel Nartey George, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to express frustration over the lack of police action on the complaint he filed after being assaulted during the 2019 by-election.
“Dear IGP and CID Director, I am still waiting for justice on my 2019 complaint. It must be treated on a first-come, first-served basis,” he wrote. “Let no one who justified that incident speak today. You sowed the wind, and you’ve reaped the whirlwind.”
The chaos at Ablekuma North involved thugs storming the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station, assaulting voters, media personnel, and party agents. Former MP for Awutu Senya East, Hawa Koomson, was reportedly kicked in the groin and assaulted while police officers stood by. A JoyNews journalist was also beaten while filming the incident.
Though the Ghana Police Service has interdicted an officer over the assault of a journalist, several observers say that is not enough.
Dr. Kwame Sarpong Asiedu of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) called the violence “reprehensible” and a “poor reflection” on police performance. Security expert Dr. Ismaeel Norman also blamed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the security lapses, saying, “The IGP is to blame for this violence.”
Meanwhile, Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, defended the Police Service, calling it a professional institution that needs public cooperation to manage elections effectively.
“The police are a very professional institution. When you don’t see them reacting with force, it doesn’t mean they are helpless. Let’s give them maximum cooperation,” he urged.
The rerun in 19 polling stations is being held to resolve a seven-month impasse that has left Ablekuma North without parliamentary representation since December 7, 2024. With just 48 votes separating the NPP’s Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh (32,512) and the NDC’s Ewurabena Aubynn (32,464) before the rerun, the stakes remain critically high.
Observers say until deeper institutional reforms and accountability mechanisms are implemented, the cycle of electoral violence may continue unchecked.
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