Investigate Assin North violence & prosecute culprits – CODEO to Ghana Police
The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has called on the Ghana Police Service to immediately launch an investigation into violence recorded during the Assin North by-election.
According to CODEO, all persons found culpable for perpetrating violence should also be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 28, the election observers said as part of their role, their officials impartially observed the process and picked up pockets of violence at some polling centers.
It cited a violent clash in which the Ashanti regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, led a convoy of vehicles in pursuit of another vehicle said to be occupied by National Democratic Congress supporters (NDC).
“During this pursuit, the occupants of the NPP vehicles proceeded to vandalize and damage parts of the NDC vehicle, resulting in commotion and disturbance along the roadside.
“It was reported that the individuals involved in the altercation fired gunshots and one person was injured and was taken to the hospital for treatment,” CODEO revealed.
In another incident, a journalist who was interviewing electorates who were in a queue to vote was confronted by a purported executive of the NPP for conducting an interview at the polling station.
“Police personnel located at the polling station swiftly intervened and that prevented the situation from degenerating.”
Meanwhile, CODEO commended the Electoral Commission (EC), police, and voters for a generally peaceful election.
“CODEO acknowledges that the conduct of the polls was consistent with the general rules and regulations which were adhered to by the polling officials.
“In addition, there were no shortage of materials and the biometric verification devices functioned well to very a large extent without any significant disruptions to the polls in any of the observed polling stations,” the statement added.