Chapter 1: Introduction
In the heart of West Africa, Ghana stands as a weary sentinel of democracy, its once-shining beacon dimmed by the shadows of violence, division, and deceit. For over three decades, since the birth of the Fourth Republic in 1992, this nation has been a lighthouse of hope in a continent battered by authoritarian storms. Yet, beneath the surface of its celebrated elections and peaceful power transitions lies a democracy bleeding at the ballot, its lifeblood seeping through the cracks of election violence, partisan puppetry, and the venomous dance of social media misinformation. The recent assault on Mavis Hawa Koomson, former Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, on July 11, 2025, during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun, is a gut-wrenching testament to this decay. Beaten, kicked, and dragged like a rag doll by faceless thugs, Koomson’s ordeal is a mirror reflecting Ghana’s fractured soul.
“They say democracy is the heartbeat of a nation, but ours is faltering, gasping for air,” laments Ama Asiedu, a 24-year-old activist with the #FixTheCountry movement, her voice trembling with the weight of a generation’s despair. This 15-chapter elegy for Ghana’s democracy weaves together the cold steel of data, the warm tears of personal stories, and the clarion call for reform. From the bloodstained polling stations of Techiman to the viral venom of X posts, we unmask the forces tearing at the nation’s seams. With every chapter, we mourn the loss of unity, yet cling to the fragile hope that Ghanaians can stitch their democracy back together before it unravels entirely. As Kwame Nkrumah once said, “We face neither East nor West; we face forward.” But can Ghana move forward when its democracy is bleeding out?
Chapter 2: The History of Election Violence
Ghana’s democratic journey is a tapestry woven with threads of triumph and tragedy, its vibrant colors marred by bloodstains that refuse to fade. Since the Fourth Republic’s dawn, nine general elections have showcased Ghana’s resilience, earning it the moniker “Africa’s democratic darling.” Yet, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Dataset (ACLED) paints a darker picture: political violence has surged since 2000, with 86 constituencies scarred by violent incidents in 2016, up from 47 in 2012. The 2020 elections were a dagger to the heart, with the Ghana Police Service reporting five deaths and over 60 violent clashes. In Techiman, 18-year-old Abdallah Ayaric fell to a stray bullet, his dreams snuffed out like a candle in the wind. His mother, Zainab Mahama, clutches his photo, whispering, “My son was my sunrise; now, I live in darkness.”
The roots of this violence stretch deep into Ghana’s post-independence soil. The 1969 and 1979 elections under the Second and Third Republics saw sporadic clashes, but the Fourth Republic’s fierce NPP-NDC rivalry fanned the flames. The 2008 elections, a neck-and-neck race won by the NDC, sparked violence in northern regions, where ethnic tensions intertwined with party loyalties. By 2012, the Ghana Police Service identified over 1,000 flashpoints for violence, a number that ballooned to 5,000 by 2016, each a ticking time bomb. The 2019 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election was a wound that refused to heal, with nearly 20 injuries linked to alleged state-backed vigilantes, prompting the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act. Yet, the law is a paper tiger, as the 2025 Ablekuma North rerun proved.
On that fateful July day, Hawa Koomson, a towering figure in the NPP, was set upon by a mob believed to be NDC-affiliated. Graphic Online described a scene of chaos: Koomson, attempting to wield pepper spray, was overpowered, beaten, and dragged across the ground, her phone stolen as voters fled in terror. “It was like wolves descending on a wounded deer,” an eyewitness told YEN GHANA , their voice heavy with sorrow. The attack on Koomson, alongside injuries to NPP candidate Nana Akua Afriyie and journalists, is a grim echo of past violence, a reminder that the ghosts of Ayawaso and Techiman still haunt Ghana’s polling stations.
Unemployment, gripping 30% of Ghanaians in 2020 (Ghana Statistical Service), fuels this fire, with jobless youth recruited as foot soldiers for political battles. Politicized chieftaincy disputes and distrust in the Electoral Commission (EC) pour fuel on the flames. “We’re sowing seeds of discord and reaping harvests of blood,” warns security analyst Richard Kumadoe. The consequences are a heavy yoke: eroded trust, suppressed voter turnout, and communities torn asunder, their dreams of peace shattered like glass.
Chapter 3: The Impact of Partisan Politics
Ghana’s political arena is a gladiatorial pit where the NPP and NDC clash, their swords forged from partisan loyalty rather than national unity. This bitter rivalry, a legacy of the Fourth Republic’s birth, has turned democracy into a game of thrones, where the winner takes all, and the loser cries foul. The 2024 elections, where John Mahama’s NDC swept 56.42% of the vote against the NPP’s 41.75%, unleashed a torrent of vengeance. NDC supporters, emboldened by victory, attacked state institutions, mirroring NPP reprisals in 2016. “An eye for an eye leaves us all blind,” sighs Fatima, a Tamale market trader, her voice cracking as she recalls her brother’s beating by NDC youths in 2020.
The partisan divide traces back to ideological roots NPP’s Danquah-Busia tradition versus NDC’s Nkrumahist socialism but has morphed into a patronage-driven beast. A 2024 study notes that security agency heads, appointed along party lines, compromise institutional neutrality, turning the state into a partisan pawn. The EC’s perceived bias, fueled by controversial appointments in 2020, led to NDC protests and violence, a wound reopened in 2025 when Koomson was assaulted. NDC’s Hannah Bissiw, defending the attack, pointed to Koomson’s alleged role in past violence, while NPP’s Dennis Miracles Aboagye claimed Koomson was “fighting for her life,” fanning the flames of division.
This partisanship seeps into the grassroots, where chieftaincy disputes in northern Ghana align with party lines, turning elections into tribal tinderboxes. The Ghana Police Service’s 2016 report flagged 5,000 violence-prone hotspots, many tied to partisan rivalries. “We’ve traded our unity for party colors,” laments Kwame, a Kumasi teacher, his eyes clouded with disillusionment. The human toll is a heavy burden: families fractured, neighbors estranged, and a nation divided, its dreams of harmony drowning in a sea of partisan bile.
Chapter 4: Social Media’s Role in Perpetuating Dishonesty
In Ghana’s digital age, social media is both a blessing and a curse, a double-edged sword slicing through the fabric of democracy. With a 70% internet penetration rate in 2024, platforms like X, WhatsApp, and TikTok have become arenas for political warfare, where truth is often the first casualty. During the 2020 elections, fake results spread like wildfire online, igniting protests in Tamale and Accra before the EC could speak. The 2025 Ablekuma North rerun saw this venomous dance intensify, with videos of Koomson’s assault flooding X, some posts justifying the violence with cries of “She deserved it!” while others mourned, “This is the death of our democracy.”
TikTok, the playground of Ghana’s youth, churns out polarizing content, with parties crafting snappy videos to sway first-time voters. A 2024 report warned that misinformation erodes trust, with conspiracy theories about voter register manipulation amplified by the alleged 2024 theft of seven EC laptops spreading like a plague. Cyberbullying is a scourge, particularly for women like Koomson, whose assault was mocked online, and journalists, who face death threats for daring to speak truth. “I’m a prisoner in my own voice,” sobs a young Accra journalist, her dreams of fearless reporting crushed under the weight of digital hate.
“We’re drowning in a sea of lies,” warns media analyst Sulemana Braimah, as social media’s unchecked power fuels division. The Koomson incident, twisted by partisan narratives online, shows how truth is mangled, leaving Ghanaians lost in a fog of deceit, their democracy teetering on the edge.
Chapter 5: The Consequences of Polarization
Polarization is a cancer eating at Ghana’s soul, its tendrils spreading through every election cycle. The 2024 elections, with their stark 56% to 41% divide, revealed a nation not just split by ideology but shattered by identity. Floating voters, once swayed by policy, now cling to tribal or regional loyalties, a shift that chokes democratic accountability. “We’re no longer citizens; we’re tribes in party jerseys,” mourns Akua, a female activist whose campaign was derailed by threats.
This polarization, rooted in the Fourth Republic’s competitive politics, strangles development. The 2020 Ghana Living Standards Survey reported 45% of rural households in multidimensional poverty, yet partisan patronage funnels resources to party strongholds, leaving the needy to starve. The 2025 Ablekuma North rerun, where Koomson and Nana Akua Afriyie were attacked, is a bitter fruit of this divide. NDC’s Hannah Bissiw justified the assault, citing past grievances, while NPP’s exaggerated claims deepened mistrust. “We’re tearing ourselves apart,” cries Fatima, whose brother was beaten in 2020, her family now a casualty of partisan wars.
The social fabric is fraying, with families divided and communities fractured. In Tamale, neighbors who once shared kola nuts now wield machetes over party colors. “We’ve lost our way,” sighs an elder, his voice heavy with the weight of a nation adrift.
Chapter 6: The Failure of Leadership
Ghana’s leaders, entrusted with guiding the nation, have instead fanned the flames of division, their words and actions a betrayal of the people’s trust. The 2024 campaign’s toxic rhetoric “do or die” (NDC) and “break the eight” (NPP) lit a fuse that exploded in violence, a pattern repeated in 2025 with Koomson’s assault. Former President John Mahama’s 2020 accusations of EC bias, while rooted in concern, poured fuel on the fire, sparking protests without offering a path to peace. President Nana Akufo-Addo’s Emile Short Commission after the 2019 Ayawaso violence was a flicker of hope, but its recommendations gather dust, a mocking reminder of justice denied.
Koomson’s assault is a glaring indictment of leadership failure. Her defiance of police instructions and use of pepper spray escalated tensions, but the security forces’ inability to protect her reveals a deeper rot. NDC leaders like Hannah Bissiw, justifying the attack, and NPP’s hyperbolic claims about Koomson’s condition, stoke division rather than healing. “Our leaders are puppeteers, and we’re their marionettes,” laments security analyst Richard Kumadoe. Zainab Mahama, still grieving her son’s 2020 death, weeps, “They promised justice, but gave us silence.” Ghana’s democracy cries out for leaders who choose unity over power, but the silence is deafening.
Chapter 7: The Role of Institutions
The Electoral Commission (EC) and National Peace Council (NPC) are meant to be Ghana’s democratic guardians, but their wings are clipped by partisan shadows. The EC, once a symbol of fairness, is now a lightning rod for distrust, its credibility battered by alleged NPP-affiliated appointments and errors in the 2020 results and 2024 voter register. Allegations of 50,000 deceased voters fueled conspiracy theories, a wound reopened during the 2025 Ablekuma North rerun, where violence against Koomson and others forced a suspension of voting.
The NPC’s peace pacts, like the 2024 code of conduct, are noble but toothless, lacking enforcement power. A 2024 study urged constitutional reforms to shield institutions from partisan influence, but progress is glacial. The Ghana Police Service’s failure to protect Koomson, despite enhanced security, is a bitter pill. “We vote, but the EC decides who wins,” spits Kwame, a Kumasi teacher, his words dripping with disillusionment. Ghana’s institutions are crumbling pillars, unable to hold up the weight of a democracy in distress.
Chapter 8: The Plight of the Ghanaian People
Behind the cold statistics are warm, beating hearts broken by Ghana’s democratic decay. In Chereponi, a 2012 hotspot, farmer Abukari lost his home to arson by rival party supporters, his dreams reduced to ashes. “I rebuilt with my hands, but my heart is still in ruins,” he whispers, his eyes reflecting a lifetime of loss. Women like Akua, who abandoned her campaign after WhatsApp threats, bear a heavy cross, with a 2020 study noting female candidates’ heightened risk of violence and harassment.
The 2025 Ablekuma North rerun carved fresh wounds into Ghana’s soul. Mavis Hawa Koomson, a prominent NPP figure, was set upon by a mob, her body battered and spirit bruised as videos of her ordeal spread like a virus across social media. “I saw her fall, crying for help, but the crowd had no mercy,” an eyewitness told Starr FM, their voice choked with sorrow. Journalists and voters, too, were caught in the maelstrom, their safety sacrificed on the altar of political vengeance. Youth, who form over 50% of Ghana’s 18.8 million registered voters, are both victims and pawns, lured into vigilante groups by the siren song of unemployment and despair. Ama Asiedu, a #FixTheCountry activist, cries out, “Our future is bleeding, and no one seems to care,” her words a haunting lament for a generation robbed of hope.
Chapter 9: The Economic Costs
Ghana’s democracy, once a golden goose, now lays eggs of economic ruin. The 2020 elections, marred by violence, shuttered markets and scared investors, costing an estimated $100 million in damages, per Modern Ghana. The 2025 Ablekuma North rerun, halted by the assault on Koomson and others, dealt another blow to local businesses, their dreams crushed under the weight of political chaos. “My shop is my lifeline, but politics keeps snatching it away,” sobs a trader in Accra, her livelihood looted during 2024 post-election unrest.
Partisan patronage is a thief in the night, diverting resources from the needy to party loyalists. The 2020 Ghana Living Standards Survey revealed 45% of rural households mired in multidimensional poverty, yet funds flow to political strongholds, leaving the vulnerable to wither. Ghana’s $9 billion IMF debt, ranking it fourth in Africa, chains the nation to austerity, as partisan schemes siphon resources. “We’re starving while politicians feast,” laments a farmer in the Volta Region, his fields barren as his hopes. The economic toll is a heavy yoke, dragging Ghana deeper into despair with each violent election cycle.
Chapter 10: The Way Forward
To heal Ghana’s bleeding democracy, bold reforms must rise from the ashes of despair:
Electoral Reforms: The EC must be reborn, its independence fortified by transparent, merit-based appointments and ironclad oversight, as urged by a 2024 study. “We need an EC that serves the people, not the powerful,” insists analyst Kwesi Pratt.
Civic Education: The National Commission for Civic Education must weave a tapestry of tolerance, targeting youth to counter the poison of misinformation. “Knowledge is our shield,” says Ama Asiedu.
Social Media Regulation: Fact-checking initiatives and penalties for hate speech can tame the digital beast, balancing free speech with accountability. “We can’t let lies tear us apart,” warns Sulemana Braimah.
Security Reforms: Train security forces in non-partisan crowd control and enforce the Vigilantism Act to crush vigilante groups, ensuring incidents like Koomson’s assault become relics of the past.
Justice for Victims: Prosecute perpetrators, from Koomson’s attackers to those who killed Abdallah Ayaric, and compensate victims like Zainab Mahama. “Justice is the salve for our wounds,” says Richard Kumadoe.
These reforms are a lifeline, but they require the courage of a lion and the will of a united people. The NPC’s 2024 peace pact is a flicker of hope, but only enforcement can light the path forward.
Chapter 11: The Role of Civil Society
In the storm of Ghana’s democratic decline, civil society organizations (CSOs) are lighthouses guiding the nation to safer shores. Groups like the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) have fought tirelessly, their 2020 voter education campaigns dousing flames of violence in some constituencies. Yet, their reach is limited by meager resources, their voices drowned by the cacophony of partisan noise. The #FixTheCountry movement, led by fiery youth like Ama Asiedu, is a beacon of hope, its online and offline protests demanding accountability. “We’re the heartbeat of change,” Ama declares, her eyes blazing with defiance.
The Koomson assault galvanized CSOs, with the Ghana Journalists Association condemning attacks on reporters during the rerun. Strengthening CSOs through funding and capacity-building is a lifeline for democracy, empowering them to bridge divides and hold leaders accountable. “Civil society is our conscience,” says IDEG’s Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey. Without their tireless work, Ghana risks sinking deeper into the abyss of division.
Chapter 12: International Best Practices
Ghana, battered but not broken, can draw wisdom from the world’s democratic survivors. South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission, a fortress of transparency, has weathered storms of distrust, offering a blueprint for Ghana’s EC. Kenya, scarred by the 2007 election violence, rebuilt trust through judicial oversight and robust security protocols, reducing clashes in 2017. Ghana could adopt similar mechanisms, ensuring fair dispute resolution and safe polling stations to prevent tragedies like Koomson’s assault.
International aid, like the $9 billion that bolstered Ghana’s 1990s transition, can support reforms, but only with accountability to avoid debt’s shackles. “We must borrow wisdom, not just money,” advises analyst Kojo Pumpuni Asante. Ghana must tailor these practices to its soil, ensuring reforms take root in the hearts of its people, lest they wither like unwatered crops.
Chapter 13: The Media’s Responsibility
Traditional media, the storyteller of Ghana’s democracy, wields a pen mightier than any sword, yet its blade can cut both ways. Graphic Online’s vivid coverage of Koomson’s 2025 assault exposed the brutality, but sensationalist headlines can fan flames of division. “We must report truth, not fuel hate,” urges MFWA’s Sulemana Braimah. Training journalists in conflict-sensitive reporting, as the MFWA advocates, can weave a narrative of peace, countering the venom of social media.
The Ghana Journalists Association’s outcry over attacks on reporters during the Ablekuma North rerun is a call to arms. Media must amplify marginalized voices women like Koomson, youth like Ama Asiedu to foster inclusive dialogue. “The press is our mirror; it must reflect all of us,” says journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni. Without a responsible media, Ghana’s democracy risks fading into a shadow of itself.
Chapter 14: Youth Engagement
Ghana’s youth, over 10 million strong among 18.8 million registered voters, are the heartbeat of the nation’s future, yet they teeter between apathy and violence. Unemployment, gripping 30% in 2020, lures them into vigilante groups, as seen in the 2025 rerun’s chaos. “Our youth are diamonds, but politics turns them into weapons,” mourns a Tamale elder. Engaging them through civic education and leadership programs, like #FixTheCountry, can redirect their passion. Community events football matches, cultural festivals can douse the flames of vigilantism, as suggested by parliamentary candidates.
Ama Asiedu’s voice rings clear: “We’re not just the future; we’re the now.” Empowering young leaders like her can forge a democracy that shines, not bleeds, ensuring the next generation inherits hope, not despair.
Chapter 15: Conclusion
Ghana’s democracy is a wounded warrior, bleeding from the gashes of election violence, partisan puppetry, and social media’s venomous dance. The assault on Hawa Koomson, the unresolved grief of Zainab Mahama, and the shattered dreams of Abukari and countless others are a dirge for a nation at the crossroads. “We’re a family divided, tearing at our own flesh,” weeps Fatima, her words a mirror to Ghana’s fractured soul.
Yet, hope flickers in the darkness. Ghanaians must rise, a united tide demanding accountability, electoral reforms, and justice. Civil society, media, and youth are the torchbearers, lighting the path to a democracy that heals, not hurts. As Nkrumah’s words echo “We face forward” Ghana must forge ahead, stitching its wounds with the threads of unity and reform. The ballot must no longer be a battlefield, but a bridge to a brighter future. The time to act is now, lest Ghana’s democracy fade into a mournful memory.
