Experts Condemn Violence During Ablekuma North Rerun, Call for Police Accountability
Following the violent incidents that marred the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun, prominent voices in academia and security have spoken out, urging calm, accountability, and better police preparedness.
Political Science Professor Ransford Gyampo has condemned the assault on former Awutu Senya East MP, Hawa Koomson, during the voting process. While acknowledging her controversial political history, he stressed that nothing justifies violence.
“Hawa Koomson shouldn’t have been allowed near the voting centre because of her past conduct. But regardless, two wrongs don’t make a right. We cannot take the law into our own hands simply because we’re angry—otherwise, we risk perpetuating a cycle of lawlessness,” Prof. Gyampo said on TV3’s The Key Points on Saturday, July 12.
Joining the conversation, Dr. Ishmael Norman, a respected security analyst, strongly criticized the Ghana Police Service for its poor handling of security at the polling stations. He insisted that the Police should have anticipated the chaos and designated the area as a security hotspot.
“The performance wasn’t entirely bad, but their preparedness was poor. They didn’t plan for the worst-case scenario, which is unacceptable in such a tense rerun,” Dr. Norman noted.
He further called for swift disciplinary action, urging the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to identify and sanction officers who failed in their duties during the event.
“The IGP must take immediate steps to punish officers who misbehaved. The attackers must also be prosecuted without delay,” he added.
Chaos erupted at the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station, one of 19 involved in the rerun, after a group of unidentified men stormed the area in a pickup truck. Despite police presence, the group reportedly forced its way into the polling station and began assaulting individuals.
The violence led to the suspension of voting at the location, raising serious concerns about election security and the professionalism of officers on duty.
Dr. Norman emphasized that such lapses not only undermine public trust in law enforcement but also threaten the credibility of Ghana’s democratic process.
“This incident should be a wake-up call. The Police should have searched everyone, secured the area thoroughly, and been fully prepared to prevent any form of disorder,” he concluded.
As calls for accountability grow, many hope the authorities will act decisively to restore public confidence and ensure such violence does not recur in future elections.

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