Martin Kpebu calls for Justice on Ayawaso Report as Chaos Mars Ablekuma North Rerun

Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has reignited calls for action on the long-dormant Ayawaso West Wuogon Commission report, arguing that justice must first be served in that case before efforts can be made to resolve the recent electoral violence in the Ablekuma North constituency.

Speaking on The Key Points on TV3, Kpebu lamented the neglect of the Ayawaso report, insisting that the Ablekuma chaos can not be addressed while such precedent cases remain unresolved.

“I am not equalising anything, but yesterday when I saw [the Ablekuma North chaos], my mind went to Ayawaso West Wuogon. The report is there gathering dust,” Kpebu stated. “Those who were supposed to get compensation, not all of them were paid. This is the impunity we’ve been talking about.”

“Take up the Ayawaso West Wuogon Commission report and work with it; if you don’t, then this one can’t go to court,” he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, Ningo-Prampram MP Samuel Nartey George criticised the Ghana Police Service for its silence on the complaint he filed after he was assaulted during the 2019 by-election. In a strongly worded post on X, he called for a “first-come, first-served” approach to justice.

“Let no one who justified the 2019 incident dare try to speak today. You sowed the wind, and you have reaped the whirlwind,” Sam George wrote.

■ Outrage Over Security Failures

Meanwhile, the violence during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun has drawn heavy criticism from civil society and security experts.

Dr Kwame Sarpong Asiedu of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development described the incident as “reprehensible”, stating, “Are the stakes so high for this? Ghana Police, this is a poor reflection on you.”

Security analyst Dr Ishmael Norman also blamed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), saying, “There were clear security lapses. The IGP is to blame for this violence.”

However, Minister of Defence Dr Edward Omane Boamah has defended the Police Service, urging Ghanaians to support its operations. “The police are a very professional institution; when you don’t see them reacting with force, it doesn’t mean they are helpless,” he said.

■ Violence at the Polling Station

The rerun, which took place across 19 polling stations, was marred by chaos, particularly at the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station. Armed men in a pickup stormed the venue and attacked several individuals, including former MP Hawa Koomson, who was kicked and beaten before police intervened.

TV3’s Stanley Nii Blewu, who was at the scene, also reported that a JoyNews journalist was assaulted while filming the incident. Despite the heavy police presence, officers failed to prevent the attack.

■ Rerun Background

The rerun followed a disputed collation process in December 2024, during which original result forms (Pink Sheets) were allegedly destroyed. The Electoral Commission relied on scanned copies provided by the NPP, which the NDC rejected, demanding a full rerun.

As violence escalates and political tensions deepen, observers warn that without justice for past incidents, Ghana’s electoral credibility and democratic peace remain at risk.