As the Akwatia by-election approaches on September 2, 2025, the Ghana Police Service is intensifying efforts to ensure a peaceful and orderly electoral process, with the iconic “Black Maria” mobile detention unit playing a pivotal role in its law enforcement strategy.
The police van, historically known for transporting suspects, has been highlighted as a key tool to swiftly detain and remove troublemakers, thereby curbing electoral violence in the Eastern Region constituency.
The term “Black Maria,” rooted in 19th-century Boston history where a woman named Maria Lee assisted police in transporting criminals, has become symbolic of rapid response. For the upcoming by-election, it is set to serve as a deterrent against electoral disruptions.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno, speaking on the maiden use of the Black Maria for elections, emphasized its importance. He noted that its deployment in Akwatia marks a strategic step to ensure the “speedy evacuation of troublemakers” to confinement, discouraging disorder at polling stations.
Why the military is being deployed for the Akwatia by-election – Police explain
The vehicle, already visible in Akwatia, is part of a broader security framework that includes more than 5,500 police personnel, among them 600 specially trained officers who underwent a five-day intensive course at the High-Risk Operations Training Centre in Akyeremanteng, Eastern Region.
Ghana’s electoral history has been marred by violence, including deaths. In 2020, five people lost their lives to election-related incidents. Similarly, a rerun of the 2024 parliamentary election in the Ablekuma North Constituency was tainted by violence when former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, and some officials of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) were assaulted at a polling station.
To prevent a recurrence of such events, the police have rolled out new measures, including a 100-meter motorbike ban around polling stations and the deployment of drones for real-time surveillance.
During a recent training simulation, officers demonstrated their preparedness by foiling a mock ballot box theft. Suspects were swiftly arrested and transported in the Black Maria, showcasing its role in rapid response.
Peace Watch Ghana questions massive security deployment for Akwatia poll
In a Facebook post dated Saturday, August 30, 2025, ASP Abdul Hanan Mohammed EL-Saeed, a member of the Senior Officers Corps deployed for the Akwatia by-election, issued a stern warning to individuals planning to foment trouble.
“It’s not worth taking a risk you can’t manage. If you have no business in Akwatia, it’s best to stay where you are and follow events on TV. No matter how strong you think you are, you cannot withstand the power of the State when it fully mobilizes against you. This is just a one-day event for the people of Akwatia, so there’s no need for you to come and cause problems,” the officer wrote.
The Akwatia by-election was occasioned by the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Ernest Yaw Kumi.
The September 2 contest is expected to be a keenly contested race between the NDC and the NPP, both of whom are in the final stages of their campaign activities in the constituency.
In line with the Public Elections Regulations, 2016 (C.I. 94), all campaign activities must cease on Monday, providing a 24-hour cooling-off period before and during the election.
According to the Electoral Commission, this measure is to give voters ample time to reflect on their choices.
GA/MA
GhanaWeb’s latest documentary, Sex for Fish, that explores the plights of teenage girls in coastal communities, all in an attempt to survive, is out. Watch it below:
