Security Expert Slams Police Chief for Lapses During Tense Election Showdown

Chaos erupted in parts of the Ablekuma North constituency during Friday’s hotly contested parliamentary rerun as violent thugs stormed polling centres, prompting fierce criticism from a top security analyst and renewed calls for electoral reforms.

Dr Ishmael Norman, a well-known security expert, has squarely blamed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the lapses that led to Friday’s violence. “The IGP is to blame for this violence,” he declared during an interview on TV3, insisting that better planning and coordination could have prevented the attacks.

The incident, which unfolded at the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station, saw unknown men in a pickup vehicle storm the polling premises, overwhelm security officers, and unleash violence on political figures, journalists, and voters. Former MP for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, was among those brutally attacked—kicked repeatedly on the ground after falling, according to eyewitnesses.

A journalist from JoyNews was also assaulted while capturing the events on camera. Reports indicate that the thugs specifically targeted individuals near the ballot boxes before police finally intervened to restore some order.

Despite a heavy police presence, officers were initially unable to contain the disruption, raising serious concerns about preparedness and response during elections.

■ Defence Minister Calls for Cooperation

In response to the chaos, Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah defended the professionalism of the police, urging the public to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

“The police are a very professional institution; when you don’t see them reacting with force, it doesn’t mean they are helpless,” he told journalists. “Let us give the police the maximum cooperation.”

His comments come amid public frustration over the police’s inability to prevent or quickly subdue the violence that erupted in multiple polling centres.

■ Tight Contest and High Stakes

The rerun in 19 polling stations is taking place to resolve a months-long deadlock in the Ablekuma North parliamentary race, which has left the area without representation since the December 2024 general election.

Current tallies from 262 polling stations show a razor-thin margin:

• NPP (Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh): 32,512 votes
• NDC (Ewurabena Aubynn): 32,464 votes
• Margin: 48 votes

With such a narrow lead, the outcome of the rerun will be decisive.

■ Backdrop of Dispute

The chaos stems from December’s disputed results when violence at the collation centre led to the destruction of original pink sheets. The EC relied on scanned copies from the NPP to complete the count—prompting the NDC to demand a rerun in 37 polling stations. Eventually, the EC ordered a rerun in 19 polling stations.

The rerun pits NDC’s Ewurabena Aubynn against NPP’s Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh, who is defying her party’s directive to boycott the poll.

As voting continues, all eyes are on the EC and security agencies to ensure that the rest of the process unfolds peacefully and fairly, allowing Ablekuma North to finally resolve its parliamentary stalemate.