Dennis Miracles Aboagye, a former staff member at the presidency during Akufo-Addo’s time in office, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take immediate action after violent incidents were recorded during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun elections.
Speaking on the worrying level of chaos and poor security arrangements, Aboagye said the situation has grown dangerous and now puts people’s lives at serious risk. He revealed that Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, had been brutally attacked at a polling center and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as supporters of opposing parties clashed while security officers reportedly struggled to maintain order. Some known political figures were reportedly caught up in the violent disturbances.
Aboagye blamed the police leadership, particularly the IGP, for allowing the situation to get out of hand. He strongly condemned the lack of law enforcement presence and called for swift action to restore peace and hold the attackers accountable. He said the current level of disorder must not be accepted, and the safety of the people must be a top priority.
His appeal reflects growing worry from civil society organizations and political analysts who believe the violence witnessed during the elections could have been avoided.
In a related development, the Ghana Police Service has interdicted an officer who was caught on camera slapping a journalist at the event and referred the case to the Police Professional Standards Bureau.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high in Ablekuma North as the vote count remains tight. The New Patriotic Party’s Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie holds a slim lead with 32,512 votes, just slightly ahead of the National Democratic Congress’ Ewurabena Aubynn, who has 32,464 votes. The final outcome now depends on a pending round of voting involving over 6,800 registered voters across 19 polling stations.
As the country awaits the results and a peaceful resolution, Aboagye emphasized that the violence must come to an end, warning that the stakes are not just political but also affect human lives. The Ghana Police Service is yet to publicly respond to Aboagye’s statement or provide any new information on Hawa Koomson’s health condition.