Rerun Election Scheduled for Ablekuma North Constituency
- The rerun election in Ablekuma North is on July 11, 2025.
- The Electoral Commission ordered the rerun due to unverified results from 19 polling stations.
- Tensions are high as candidates Akua Afriyie and Ewurabena Aubyn prepare for the rematch.
- The NPP has called for a boycott but Afriyie intends to contest.
- Past violence around December elections has raised concerns over electoral integrity.
Rerun Election Sparks Controversy in Ablekuma North
A rerun election is set to take place in the Ablekuma North constituency on July 11, 2025, following controversy surrounding the results from the previous election held in December 2024. The Electoral Commission of Ghana announced this rerun for 19 out of 281 polling centers where verification of results was not possible. This situation arose due to disputes between the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) regarding the authenticity of the results reported from these polling stations.
Opposing Parties in Rerun Face Off Again
In the lead-up to this critical rerun, tensions have escalated. The NPP’s Akua Afriyie, the candidate who initially claimed to have won with over 400 votes, has expressed her disagreement with the Electoral Commission’s decision. The NPP called for a boycott of the upcoming election, arguing that their candidate already secured a victory based on original vote counts and that the Electoral Commission’s actions amount to contempt of court; however, Afriyie has stated she intends to contest the vote regardless of her party’s standpoint. On the other side, the NDC’s Ewurabena Aubyn is actively campaigning to secure the seat, with both candidates ready to face off once more to gain the trust of their constituents.
Elections Marred by Violence and Legal Challenges
The scandal from December 2024 elections was fueled by chaos that erupted in collation centers, where purported angry supporters of various parties destroyed election materials. This violence disrupted the verification process and cast a shadow over the integrity of the elections, leading to a situation where the original results could not be authenticated. Moreover, after multiple court engagements, including attempts to halt the rerun, the High Court dismissed the NPP’s application for an injunction, solidifying the decision that will see voters return to the polls to determine a definitive outcome in this contentious constituency. Given the precedent in the region surrounding election integrity, the repercussions of this rerun could be significant for democracy in Ghana.
The Ablekuma North constituency faces a pivotal moment as the electoral authorities prepare for the rerun election scheduled for July 11, 2025. Amidst accusations of election mismanagement and calls for boycotting the polls, voters will play a crucial role in determining their representation. The outcomes of these elections could have lasting effects on Ghana’s political landscape and trust in its electoral processes.
