Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, has expressed concern over the violence that rocked parts of the Ablekuma North parliamentary election rerun.
The exercise held on Friday, July 11, in 19 polling stations, saw several people, including former Minister for Fisheries Hawa Koomson, and even journalists, assaulted by thugs.
The violence which happened at St. Peter’s Polling Station and other polling stations which recorded similar incidents, forced voting to be suspended for hours, before reinforcement.
Reacting to this in a social media post on Saturday, July 12, Manasseh described the recurring cycle of electoral violence as a reflection of societal failure to uphold basic human values during elections.
“We don’t have to maim and kill one another to elect people to go to parliament. That’s not what human beings are expected to do,” he wrote.
Manasseh cautioned political party supporters against celebrating violence when it favours their side and condemning it only when they become victims.
He stressed that such hypocrisy dehumanises Ghanaians in the eyes of the global community.
“If you gloated over Ayawaso West Wuogon and are now condemning Ablekuma North, that makes you look like an animal. If you condemned Ayawaso West Wuogon and are now rejoicing over the violence of Ablekuma North because you have the upper hand this time, then you’re not better than an animal,” he said.
The Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun, which saw the National Democratic Congress’ Ewurabena Aubynn emerge victorious, was held in areas where results from the 2024 elections were not certified by Electoral Commission officers due to violence.
