Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has issued a sharp rebuke to President John Dramani Mahama and the ruling NDC government, demanding immediate action against those behind the violent assault that marred the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun on Friday, July 11.
The chaos erupted at St. Peter’s Polling Station when a group of unidentified thugs stormed the premises, halting the voting process and physically attacking NPP parliamentary candidate Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie and former Fisheries Minister Mavis Hawa Koomson.
Visibly angered by the incident, Dr. Bawumia condemned the attack and challenged the President to act with urgency.
“What we have to be clear about is that the people who have perpetrated these acts have been caught on video. I call on the president to take action and all the people in charge of this country, the administration, to take action to bring the perpetrators to book. This is the only way we can deter this in future,” he said.
Describing the assault as “an affront to democracy,” Dr. Bawumia warned that failure to bring the culprits to justice would not be forgotten.
“We have seen them, and let me assure you that should they not be brought to book, we will not forget. They will be brought to book no matter how long it takes. We will not forget what has happened,” he stated.
The attack forced a temporary halt in voting and triggered widespread panic among voters and electoral officials. Despite the presence of security personnel, law enforcement struggled to contain the situation or apprehend the assailants on the spot.
Friday’s rerun was conducted by the Electoral Commission in 19 polling stations, following months of legal and political disputes that arose from the disputed December 7, 2024, parliamentary election. The constituency has remained without an MP since then.
Although the NPP leadership formally boycotted the rerun, Nana Akua Afriyie chose to defy the party’s directive and proceeded to contest. Her decision reignited political tensions in the area and set the stage for the confrontation that unfolded.
Observers say the violent scenes in Ablekuma North underscore growing concerns about electoral security, and Dr. Bawumia’s call adds pressure on the Mahama-led administration to prove its commitment to upholding law and order.
As investigations continue, civil society and political watchers are urging the Ghana Police Service to act swiftly to identify and prosecute the attackers caught on video, in order to restore public confidence in Ghana’s democratic processes.
