Member of Parliament-elect for Ablekuma North, Ewurabena Aubynn, has condemned the pockets of violence that characterised the rerun election in some polling stations within the constituency on Friday, July 11, 2025.
Although she says she wasn’t present during the incidents, she describes the development as unfortunate and believes it’s a legacy that shouldn’t be bequeathed to Ghana’s democracy.
According to Madam Aubynn, violence doesn’t elect leadership and should be discarded from Ghana’s democracy to prevent derailing the nation’s successes in the rule of law over the years.
Speaking in a telephone interview on Onua TV’s morning show, Maakye, on Monday, July 14, 2025, the MP-elect noted that although her sources indicate the persons who attacked former MP for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, were individuals she has personal issues with, what happened shouldn’t have occurred under any circumstance.
Speaking in Twi, she said: “Electoral violence doesn’t determine who emerges as the winner in a race. What happened is unfortunate.”
“I was asking what triggered this, and I was told she (Mavis Hawa Koomson) had already armed herself. But whatever the reason, it shouldn’t have happened.
She used the opportunity to apologise to persons who were present and were affected by the incidents in one way or the other. “I wasn’t present at the polling stations where the incidents occurred. I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to everyone.”
Background
The rerun election in 19 polling stations in Ablekuma North last Friday was disrupted by violent attacks, as key political figures were assaulted by unknown individuals during the voting.
Some of these attacks happened in front of heavily armed security officers, causing the election to stop for a while as voters, election officials, and political representatives ran for safety.
Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, was attacked at the Methodist 1 polling station, resulting in injuries, as the hoodlums arrived in a pickup truck accompanied by multiple motorbikes, which caused panic among voters.
These thugs stormed the polling station, pushed aside the security officers, and chased after the former MP. She tried to defend herself with pepper spray from her bag, but they overpowered her and handled her roughly. The police quickly stepped in to help her up from the ground, where she had suffered bruises on her face.
The Deputy National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chris Lloyd Nii Kwei Asamoah, was also physically attacked at the St. Peter’s polling station in Odorkor when he tried to gain access to the polling station. Unknown men punched him in the face until the police stepped in to protect him.
Additional disturbances were also reported at the Church of Pentecost, North Odorkor Polling Station 2, where a police officer was suspended for slapping Agyekum Banahene, a journalist with GHOne TV.
In a press statement announcing the officer’s interdiction, the police service assured the public that a thorough investigation would be conducted, and further updates would be provided.
READ ALSO: Ablekuma North rerun: Police interdict officer for slapping GHOne TV reporter at polling station
The Electoral Commission organised the rerun across 19 polling stations after disputes from the December 7, 2024, general election left the constituency without an MP for seven months.
Although the NPP officially boycotted the rerun over claims of unfairness, its candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, chose to participate in the election.
Despite these events, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Ewurabena Aubynn, won the election by 209 votes, beating the NPP’s Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie.
Ewurabena Aubynn received 34,090 votes, whilst Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie garnered 33,881, as announced by the Electoral Commission.
