IGP Visits Chaos-Hit Polling Station as Bawumia Condemns Attacks

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has paid an urgent visit to the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station in the Ablekuma North constituency, following violent disturbances that marred the parliamentary rerun election on Friday, July 11.

Accompanied by a high-ranking entourage, the IGP assessed the security situation and engaged briefly with police officers and Electoral Commission (EC) officials present at the scene. His visit forms part of a broader effort to ensure calm and order as voting continues in the 19 affected polling stations.

The IGP, however, did not hide his displeasure over how security officers handled the incident. According to sources, Yohuno criticised the officers on duty for failing to prevent the chaos and allowing thugs to storm the polling centre unchecked.

■ Chaos Erupts at Polling Station

The Odorkor Methodist 1 station temporarily suspended voting after a group of unidentified men in a pick-up vehicle stormed the area, bypassing police protection and launching attacks on several individuals.

One of the high-profile victims was former Awutu Senya East MP and former Minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson, who was reportedly kicked in the groin and assaulted on the ground before officers managed to rescue her. TV3 journalist Stanley Nii Blewu, who witnessed the incident, also confirmed that other victims included journalists and NPP party officials.

Despite a visible police presence, the attackers were able to cause significant disruption, prompting criticism of the force’s preparedness and response.

■ Bawumia: “This is not the democracy we want”

Former Vice President and 2024 NPP presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as a threat to Ghana’s democratic integrity.

“It is worrying, very disturbing. This is not the democracy we want to see in Ghana,” Bawumia told journalists, lamenting the assault on Hawa Koomson, the NPP parliamentary candidate Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, and several female supporters of the party.

He further warned that if political actors begin to feel unsafe and are forced to provide private security, it could create a “recipe for disaster.”

■ Rerun Under Scrutiny

The parliamentary rerun in Ablekuma North, ordered by the Electoral Commission to resolve disputes from the December 2024 elections, has been a hotbed of tension. With only 19 polling stations left to determine the final winner, the rerun has drawn national attention, especially given the razor-thin margin of 48 votes between the NPP and NDC candidates.

The IGP’s visit and Bawumia’s condemnation underline growing concerns over electoral security and the urgent need for reforms to protect the integrity of Ghana’s democratic processes.