NPP Candidate Attacked, Voting Halted Amid Chaos
On July 11, 2025, a group of unidentified thugs stormed St. Peter’s polling station in Ablekuma North, assaulting NPP candidate Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie and former MP Mavis Hawa Koomson during the parliamentary rerun. The coordinated attack caused facial injuries to Afriyie and a female party agent, halting voting and sparking panic among voters and officials, as reported by CitiNewsroom.
The rerun, covering 19 polling stations, was ordered by the Electoral Commission (EC) to resolve disputes from the December 2024 election, where results from 19 stations lacked presiding officer verification. Despite the NPP’s boycott and legal challenge, dismissed by the High Court on July 9, Afriyie defied her party to contest as an independent, claiming a 414-vote win.
Security personnel, including police, Formed Police Unit trucks, restored order, but the response was criticized as inadequate. The incident, coupled with a separate assault on GHOne journalist Banahene Agyekum by a police officer, has raised concerns about electoral safety. The Ghana Journalists Association demanded accountability, citing threats to press freedom.
BREAKING: “Absolute bonkers! Unbelievable” – Unidentified men attack officers, NPP candidate Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, and former Minister Hawa Koomson at St. Peter’s polling station. Tensions erupt as the group disrupts proceedings at the Ablekuma North rerun centre.… pic.twitter.com/fb1JI23Zrn
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) July 11, 2025
The violence follows months of tension between the NPP and NDC, with the EC accused of bias. Afriyie, supported by NPP figures like Kennedy Agyapong, alleged NDC plans to disrupt the rerun with “macho men.” The NDC’s Ewurabena Aubynn, backed by Joshua Alabi, campaigns for change.
With Ablekuma North’s seat vacant since December 2024, the attack has intensified calls for stronger security and investigations into voter intimidation. Civil society groups urge swift action to protect candidates, voters, and journalists, as Ghana’s electoral integrity faces scrutiny amid high-stakes political rivalry.