Former Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku in the Greater Accra region, Dr. Bernard Oko Boye, has insisted on supporting his party’s decision to boycott the Ablekuma North rerun, despite visiting the constituency to campaign for their candidate.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) officially announced a boycott following the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to rerun elections in 19 polling centers in the Ablekuma North constituency.
Its candidate, Nana Akua Afriyie, whose injunction to halt the process was dismissed by the court, insisted the grounds were fertile for her and would contest, in opposition to the party’s stance.
Speaking with Onua News’ Akua Sarpomaa at the Church of Pentecost North Odorkor 4 polling station on Friday, July 11, 2025, Dr. Bernard Oko Boye said he understands the party’s position but can’t leave their candidate to face the challenges alone.
According to him, “I understand the principle of the party. If we endorse this and participate, it means in the future, if they use it against us, we can’t complain.”
He disclosed further that he has a relationship with the candidate, and despite the party’s decision to abstain from the exercise, she needs his support, although he respects the party’s position.
“But I also share in the grief and concern and pain of Akua. When I was in Parliament, she was my office mate. This is a widow, she’s gone through a lot, she’s been physically mishandled, slapped at collation centres.
“So, emotionally alone, I know that all is not well. So, if she decides to contest, my heart is with her. My mind is with the party’s principle, but I’m here because I know she is a widow, we can’t watch her to stand alone,” he stated.
The Electoral Commission (EC) is conducting a rerun in 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North constituency due to issues with the initial election results.
The EC discovered that the scanned results used for collation in these 19 stations weren’t verified by the Presiding Officers, raising concerns about their authenticity.
This decision follows a dispute between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the election outcome.
The NDC called for a rerun in 37 polling stations, while the NPP insisted that only three stations’ results were outstanding. But, the EC, after arriving at a compromise with the parties, decided to conduct the election again for 19 polling stations whose results couldn’t be authenticated.
Although the NPP officially announced a boycott of the rerun, its candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, kept campaigning and opposed the decision to opt out of the polls.
She filed an injunction to stop the EC from organising the election, claiming it was unnecessary since her party had won the December 2024 edition, but was dismissed by the court.
With 6,839 voters expected, the rerun aims to resolve the impasse and declare a winner for the constituency.
