The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), is calling for swift and decisive measures following serious security breaches that marred the Ablekuma North parliamentary election rerun held on Friday, July 11, 2025.

In a statement issued on Monday, July 14, and signed by the coordinator of its secretariat, Joseph Oti Frimpong, CODEO condemned teh vilence, intimidation and infiltewration of unauthorized individuals into polling centres.

It described the situation as a threat to electoral integrity and national security.

CODEO has therefore urged President John Dramani Mahama and the leadership of the Ghana Police Service to launch an investigation into the conduct of police officers stationed at the gate during the attacks.

“CODEO calls on President John Mahama and the Police Council under Article 202 (2) of the Constitution, to exercise its powers of Control and Direction of the Inspector General of Police to institute an inquiry into the recent actions of police officers in the handling of police duties involving political actors. This must be done urgently to ensure clear remedial actions are taken ahead of the bye-election in Akwatia,” the statement read.

The Electoral Commission (EC) held an election in 19 polling stations of the Ablekuma North to provide its constituents with a representative after the 2024 parliamentary elections.

However, voting in two polling stations, the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station and St. Peters polling station in the constituency, was suspended and later continued following chaos.

At the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station in the Ablekuma North constituency, some individuals engaged in a fisticuff with the police personnel. Also, a JoyNews journalist was slapped by an unknown individual.

Former Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Member of Parliament for Ewutu Senya East Constituency, Hawa Koomson, was also assaulted by a group of men during the election.

In a video gone viral, a man lunged at Hawa Koomson, pushing her to the ground. Another person was seen kicking her.

The Police officers present intervened and prevented further attack against Hawa Koomson.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has interdicted one of its officers who was caught on camera slapping a journalist with GH One Television, Banahene Agyekum, during the rerun election at Ablekuma North.

In line with internal disciplinary procedures, he has been referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) for investigation.

The officer concerned has been withdrawn from the ongoing election duty at Ablekuma North.

The Police have assured the public that a thorough investigation will be conducted into the matter and further updates will be communicated.

It is unknown what exactly transpired between the reporter and a group of police officers that led to him being slapped.

The Police officer's action has been condemned by all, including the mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, who witnessed the unfortunate incident.

Engaging the media after the assault, Banahene Agyekum expressed distress and pain.

“Yes, (I won’t be able to continue work today) because my right eye is shaking and I don’t know what happened to my forehead. I have to go for a medical checkup,” he stated.

The Electoral Commission (EC) is holding an election in 19 polling stations of the Ablekuma North to provide its constituents a representative after the 2024 parliamentary elections.

After the 2024 polls, Ablekuma North remained the only constituency in Ghana without a sitting MP, due to unresolved disagreements over the outcome of the parliamentary vote.

On December 10, 2024, three days after the national polls, the EC declared Ewurabena Aubynn of the NDC the winner of the Ablekuma North parliamentary seat, defeating the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh.

However, the EC later revoked the announcement, revealing that results from 62 of the 281 polling stations had not been included in the initial collation.

Efforts to restart the collation in January 2025 were disrupted by multiple challenges.

These included interruptions due to the submission of unverified pink sheets and a violent intrusion at the collation centre that heightened security concerns.

The Electoral Commission (EC), after extensive deliberations, in July noted that it will hold the rerun election because the 19 scanned polling station results used for the collation, though approved by agents of both political parties, were not verified by the presiding officers responsible for those polling stations.

The EC arrived at this decision after it met with the representatives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday, July 1.

Ahead of today's election, the EC called on the Ghana Police Service to provide the needed security to ensure a safe environment for the conduct of the election.