Public interest advocate Rodaline Imoru Ayarna has urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to reconsider its decision to boycott the upcoming rerun of the parliamentary election in Ablekuma North as reported by Ghana Web.
The rerun, scheduled for Friday, July 11, will take place in 19 polling stations and could significantly impact the current composition of Ghana’s Parliament.
Ayarna cautioned that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) could gain a two-thirds majority in Parliament if it secures the contested seat.
She argued that underestimating the value of a single seat would be a costly political mistake. “Looking at the numbers in Parliament now, one seat will make a great deal of difference,” she warned.
According to her, the boycott could paint the NPP in a negative light if voter turnout heavily favours the NDC, possibly resulting in an embarrassing result.
She cited the 1992 parliamentary boycott by the NPP as a historical example of the long-term consequences of such actions.
“If the voting becomes like 34,000 and then you go and get 200, it goes into our history books regardless of the fact that you boycotted,” she remarked, stressing the symbolic and strategic importance of contesting the seat.
Ayarna further appealed to the NPP to consider the democratic rights of their supporters, adding that full participation is vital in any electoral process.
She questioned why the party would deny its base the chance to vote, emphasizing that “politics is a game of numbers.”
The Electoral Commission has confirmed preparations for the rerun, which could prove pivotal in determining parliamentary control.