Akwatia By-Election: NDC plotting to intimidate voters – NPP
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of plotting to incite violence, using operatives disguised as national security personnel ahead of the Akwatia by-election.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, the NPP’s Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, said the party had received “reliable intelligence” that the NDC plans to deploy individuals posing as national security agents to intimidate voters in the run-up to the vote, scheduled for Tuesday, September 2.
Ahiagbah noted that the Ghana Police Service has already committed to deploying over 5,000 officers to maintain security in the constituency.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has also stated that the police do not require military support to keep the peace.
Despite these assurances, Ahiagbah alleged that Richard Jakpa, recently appointed Director of Operations at the National Security Secretariat, is moving through Akwatia with military personnel, reportedly threatening residents to vacate the area before the election.
He issued a stern warning, stating, “Any soldier involved in the Akwatia by-election will be considered and treated as a thug.”
The NPP also called on President John Mahama, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to restrain Jakpa and ensure the military does not interfere in the election.
The NDC has responded with a warning of its own. During a campaign stop earlier on Wednesday, the party’s Deputy General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande, declared that any attempt to intimidate or attack NDC supporters on election day would be met with “equal resistance.”
While insisting the NDC is committed to peace, Gbande added, “If anybody decides to come to the town or the voting grounds with violence, they will come, but they will not know how to leave”.
National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, also weighed in, calling for calm and urging all political parties to respect the democratic process.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has reaffirmed its readiness to ensure a peaceful and secure voting environment.
The upcoming by-election is expected to be fiercely contested, with the NPP’s Solomon Kwame Asumadu facing off against the NDC’s Bernard Bediako.
The by-election follows the death of Member of Parliament Ernest Kumi on July 7 after a short illness.
The by-election is scheduled for September 2, 2025, in the Akwatia Constituency of the Eastern Region.