Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has urged authorities to address the unresolved findings of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Commission of Inquiry before moving on to the recent chaos at the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun.
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Speaking on The Key Points on TV3, Kpebu criticized the government’s inaction on the 2019 Ayawaso by-election report, saying it sets a dangerous precedent of impunity.
“The Ayawaso report is gathering dust. Victims have not been compensated. This is the kind of impunity we keep talking about. You cannot jump to Ablekuma North while Ayawaso remains ignored,” he said.
Echoing his concerns, MP for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, said the Ghana Police Service had failed to act on the assault he suffered in the 2019 by-election and insisted justice must be served in order of complaints filed.
Security experts and civil society have also weighed in. Dr. Kwame Sarpong Asiedu of the CDD called the violence “reprehensible” and blamed the police for poor handling. Dr. Ishmael Norman pointed fingers directly at the IGP, citing security lapses and a lack of preparedness.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah defended the Ghana Police, urging citizens to cooperate with the force, describing it as a “professional institution.”
The chaos, which broke out at the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station, saw thugs storm the area and assault voters, including former Awutu Senya East MP Hawa Koomson. A JoyNews journalist was also attacked while filming the incident.
Despite the violence, voting continued in 19 polling stations across Ablekuma North. The rerun aims to break a seven-month parliamentary stalemate following disputed December 2024 results.
From already collated results, the race remains tight:
- NPP’s Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh: 32,512
- NDC’s Ewurabena Aubynn: 32,464
- Vote difference: 48
The rerun was triggered by the destruction of original result sheets during the December polls, forcing the EC to rely on scanned copies, an approach contested by the NDC.
