NPP warns against intimidation tactics ahead of Akwatia by-election

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and elements within the security services of plotting to intimidate voters in the run-up to the upcoming Akwatia Constituency parliamentary by-election.

Addressing a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Asylum Down, on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, the NPP’s Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, alleged that the NDC is preparing to “hide behind the guise of National Security to terrorize some residents and voters in Akwatia before and during the by-election.”

He recounted incidents from the recent Ablekuma North Parliamentary rerun, where he said NPP officials, including former ministers and women, were brutally assaulted by “NDC surrogates,” yet no serious arrests had been made despite “overwhelming video evidence” circulated widely.

“Despite the myriads of clear and overwhelming video evidence widely circulated across social and traditional media, the Ghana Police Service has failed to make any significant progress in apprehending the real perpetrators to face the full rigors of the law,” Mr. Ahiagbah stated.

According to him, while pro-NPP activists and media personalities have been subjected to harsh bail conditions and prolonged detentions, “faceless and nameless thugs who assaulted former ministers, women, and other senior party officials were quietly granted bail on our blind side.”

Security deployment?

The NPP Communications Director also raised alarm over the planned deployment of 5,000 police officers for the election. While the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has assured that no military personnel will be involved, Mr. Ahiagbah alleged that the “infamous Richard Jakpa,” Director of Operations at National Security, has been seen in Akwatia with soldiers, reportedly intimidating residents.

“Upon this assurance by the IGP, we want to make it abundantly clear that any soldier seen involved in the Akwatia By-Election will be considered as a thug and dealt with in like manner,” Mr. Ahiagbah warned, calling on President John Dramani Mahama, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to “call Richard Jakpa to order.”

He further accused the NDC of training thugs under the cover of National Security and allegedly planning to disguise some in police uniforms during the by-election.

Demands

To prevent infiltration and ensure accountability, the NPP Communications Director demanded that the police release the list of senior officers to be deployed at each polling station and insists that all officers on duty wear official name tags.

“We make this reasonable request with the hindsight of the police brutalities on the nonviolent ‘Let My Vote Count Alliance’ demonstrators in September 2015, where several demonstrators were mercilessly assaulted and one lost his eye in the process,” Mr. Ahiagbah stressed.

He cautioned that, drawing lessons from the Ablekuma North violence, “the New Patriotic Party will defend itself if the state fails to do so.”

Tamale Central by-election

The NPP Communications Director contrasted the party’s stance on the Akwatia election with its decision not to contest the upcoming Tamale Central by-election following the death of NDC MP, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.

“Upon the tragic demise of the NDC MP for Tamale Central, the NPP in solidarity have clearly indicated our withdrawal from contesting that seat, in honour of the departed MP,” Mr. Ahiagbah stated. “We believe that this will save the nation from the tension usually associated with parliamentary by-elections.”

He questioned why, in contrast, the NDC is “creating avoidable rancor, and terrorizing people in their quest to annex a seat which, if not for the sad demise of our former MP – Hon. Ernest Kumi, belonged to the NPP.”

He called on the IGP to be “fair and firm in enforcing law and order” before, during, and after the polls, stressing that the party will hold him directly responsible should any violence occur.

“The recent spectacle of lopsided law enforcement threatens our hard-won and painstakingly maintained democracy and must be eschewed in no uncertain terms,” Mr. Ahiagbah added.