The Ablekuma North constituency rerun election, held on July 11, 2025, became a flashpoint of political tension and violence, ultimately resulting in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) wresting control of the seat from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after 28 years. The election, necessitated by unresolved disputes from the 2024 general election, was marred by several violent incidents, raising concerns about the potential for escalating political unrest in future elections. Hon. Kwasi Onyina-Acheampong, the NPP MP for Kwabre East, alleged that the violence was orchestrated by individuals formerly affiliated with the NPP, now recruited by the NDC. This accusation underscores the complex interplay of party loyalty, political opportunism, and the potential consequences of disbanding vigilante groups.
The backdrop of the Ablekuma North rerun was the highly contested 2024 general election, which evidently left unresolved issues requiring a fresh vote in this particular constituency. The rerun itself became a microcosm of the broader political landscape, characterized by intense competition and, unfortunately, a resort to violence. The NDC candidate, Ewurabena Aubynn’s victory, securing 34,090 votes against the NPP candidate Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie’s 33,881, signaled a significant shift in the political dynamics of the constituency. The narrow margin of victory further highlighted the stakes involved and likely contributed to the heightened tensions surrounding the election.
The violence that erupted during the rerun included a widely publicized assault on NPP stalwart Hawa Koomson, captured on video and circulated widely on social media. This incident, showing Koomson being attacked and forced to crawl on the ground, became emblematic of the disorder and brutality that characterized the election. The Deputy National Organiser of the NPP was also reportedly subjected to a severe beating by unidentified assailants. These acts of violence against prominent NPP figures suggest a targeted campaign of intimidation and disruption.
Hon. Onyina-Acheampong’s allegations provide a possible explanation for the source of the violence. He claimed that the individuals responsible for the attacks were former members of NPP vigilante groups who had been recruited by the NDC. He argued that these individuals, feeling abandoned by the NPP after the party disbanded its vigilante groups following calls for peace by the Peace Council, switched allegiances out of resentment and a sense of being used and discarded. This narrative portrays the perpetrators as disgruntled former loyalists seeking revenge and finding a new platform for their activities within the opposing party.
Hon. Onyina-Acheampong further pointed to a specific individual, reportedly now based in Kumasi, as a key figure leading the NDC’s attacks. This individual, according to the MP, was previously a member of the NPP, lending credence to his claim of former NPP members being involved in the violence. This specific example provides a more concrete basis for his allegations and suggests a deeper level of orchestrated activity rather than spontaneous acts of violence.
The implications of Hon. Onyina-Acheampong’s accusations are far-reaching. They highlight the potential unintended consequences of disbanding vigilante groups without addressing the underlying issues that led to their formation in the first place. By simply dismantling these groups, the NPP may have inadvertently created a pool of disgruntled and potentially dangerous individuals susceptible to recruitment by rival political factions. The alleged involvement of former NPP members in the violence also raises questions about the effectiveness of the Peace Council’s efforts to promote peaceful elections. While the disbandment of vigilante groups was a positive step, it clearly did not fully address the root causes of political violence, which may lie in deeper societal issues and a culture of impunity.
Furthermore, the violence in Ablekuma North serves as a stark warning about the fragility of the democratic process in Ghana. The willingness of political actors to resort to violence to achieve their objectives undermines the integrity of elections and threatens the stability of the country. If such incidents are allowed to continue unchecked, they could escalate into more widespread violence and further erode public trust in the electoral system. This calls for a more comprehensive approach to addressing political violence, including not only the disbandment of vigilante groups but also addressing the underlying issues of poverty, unemployment, and political polarization that contribute to their formation. It also requires strengthening law enforcement and judicial mechanisms to ensure that perpetrators of political violence are held accountable, regardless of their political affiliations. Finally, the media, Peace Council, and civil society organizations need to play a more proactive role in promoting peaceful elections and holding political parties accountable for their actions. This includes providing accurate and unbiased reporting on election-related violence, facilitating dialogue between political parties, and advocating for stronger legal frameworks to prevent and punish political violence. The events in Ablekuma North serve as a cautionary tale and a call to action for all stakeholders to work together to ensure that future elections in Ghana are free, fair, and peaceful.
