Scenes from some of the violence witnessed during the Ablekuma North rerun
The Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) and the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) have condemned the violence that was seen during the rerun of the 2024 parliamentary election for 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North constituency on Friday, July 11, 2025.
In a joint statement issued on July 14, 2025, the two Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) said that the assault of journalists, voters, and a former Member of Parliament seen during the rerun corroborates a pattern of violence in recent elections in the country.
The groups pointed out that the electoral violence the country has seen is a serious threat to Ghana’s democracy and has been emboldened by the lack of political will to deal with perpetrators of such acts.
“The Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) and the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) have observed with grave concern the acts of violence that occurred during the rerun of the parliamentary elections in 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North constituency. We are alarmed by the reports and disturbing video evidence of physical assaults inflicted on fellow citizens, including journalists, voters, and a former Member of Parliament.
“These incidents reflect a dangerous pattern of electoral violence and impunity that continues to threaten the integrity of Ghana’s democratic process. Elections must be peaceful expressions of the people’s will, not battlegrounds for political intimidation and fear,” parts of the statement read.
It added, “Recalling the infamous acts of electoral violence that occurred during the 2019 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, and the 2020 and 2024 general elections at Tolon and Ahafo Ano South West constituencies, we have observed that political inertia in dealing decisively with perpetrators of electoral violence has contributed to the growing culture of reprisal attacks and election-related impunity.”
They therefore called on the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General to put measures in place to ensure that all persons involved in the acts of violence are dealt with in accordance with the country’s laws.
Read the full statement below:
BAI/MA
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