Former Vice-President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has visited victims of violence that erupted during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun held on Friday, July 11, 2025.
His visit comes in the wake of multiple reports of physical attacks on members of the NPP, including its parliamentary candidate Akua Afriyie, former Fisheries Minister Hawa Koomson, and several party polling agents.
The disturbing incidents—allegedly perpetrated by individuals linked to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC)—have triggered widespread condemnation and reignited national concern over the growing threat of electoral violence in Ghana’s democratic process.
Solidarity visit to injured party members
On Sunday, July 13, Dr Bawumia paid a visit to a private medical facility in Accra where Akua Afriyie and several assaulted polling agents were receiving treatment.
Expressing deep sympathy and admiration for their courage, he described the attack as “unprovoked and unacceptable violence” that endangers the very foundations of Ghana’s democracy.
“No one should suffer such brutality for simply participating in a democratic process,” Dr Bawumia said.
“We will ensure their hospital bills are fully covered, and we are committed to seeking justice through the appropriate legal channels.”
Dr Bawumia’s intervention is part of a broader push by the NPP to demand accountability and justice for what it considers a targeted attack on its members.
Visit to Hawa Koomson
In addition to visiting the polling agents, Dr Bawumia also paid a visit to Mavis Hawa Koomson at her residence.
Koomson, the former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East and ex-Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, was reportedly physically assaulted during the chaos that engulfed the rerun.
The attack on Koomson, a high-profile figure in the NPP, has been described by the Minority in Parliament as part of a “coordinated assault” designed to intimidate party officials and destabilise the rerun process.
According to party insiders, the perpetrators specifically targeted prominent NPP figures to sow fear and undermine the legitimacy of the election.
Dr Bawumia expressed deep disappointment at the assault on Koomson, stating, “Such violence has no place in Ghana’s democracy, and we must ensure that those responsible are held accountable. Ghana must not become a country where political differences lead to physical harm.”
Rerun marred by chaos and political tensions
The Ablekuma North rerun, involving just 19 polling stations, was called after a court-ordered cancellation of the previous results. But what was expected to be a peaceful and procedural exercise turned violent, with reports of physical assaults on NPP agents, journalists, and former MPs.
Several videos and eyewitness accounts from the scene detailed chaotic confrontations, including the disruption of ballot counting and the physical manhandling of opposition figures.
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has since condemned the attacks on media personnel, while civil society groups have called for a swift investigation.
NPP, Minority react to escalating violence
The NPP leadership has demanded a full-scale investigation into the incidents and called on the Electoral Commission and security services to take immediate steps to prevent a repeat of such violence in future elections, including the upcoming Akwatia by-election.
Call for national reflection and peaceful elections
Ghana, long hailed as a beacon of democracy in West Africa, has seen an uptick in localised electoral violence in recent years, sparking fears of a wider erosion of democratic norms.
Dr Bawumia’s appeal reflects growing pressure on all political stakeholders to uphold peace, lawfulness, and electoral integrity.
“We must all rise above political divides and condemn such acts in unison,” Dr Bawumia said. “Ghana’s peace and democracy must be preserved, no matter our political affiliations.”
With national elections just over a year away and critical by-elections looming, the need for calm, credible, and violence-free voting processes has never been more urgent.
Watch the @WWENetwork style by the unknown macho men on Mavis Hawa Koomson at Ablekuma North rerun#AblekumaNorthRerun pic.twitter.com/Sp0ZFdmVFu
— Newscenta (@GhNewscenta) July 12, 2025
