Tensions flared at the St. Peter’s Society Methodist Church polling station in Odorkor, part of the Ablekuma North constituency, as violence marred a much-anticipated electoral rerun. Eyewitnesses described a coordinated attack by unidentified armed men, widely referred to as “macho men,” who stormed the venue in a pickup truck flanked by motorbikes.
The violent group reportedly overpowered security officers and launched brutal assaults on several political figures, including former Member of Parliament and ex-Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson. Shocking footage circulating online shows her being pushed to the ground and allegedly stomped in the chest and groin area before police intervened.
Other victims of the chaos included NPP parliamentary candidate Nana Akua Afriyie and a female polling agent, both of whom sustained injuries. Later that morning, a journalist with JOYNEWS was slapped and shoved by one of the assailants during the ongoing commotion.
Despite a heightened security presence, order was not immediately restored. Voting was suspended temporarily in several polling centers as the situation remained volatile.
The rerun, organized across 19 polling stations by the Electoral Commission after an unresolved stalemate in the December 7, 2024 general elections, has drawn sharp criticism. Civil society groups and election observers are demanding accountability and stronger protection for voters and electoral officers.
In a separate but related incident, a GHOne TV journalist was repeatedly slapped by a police officer amid the unrest. The officer has since been interdicted and referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau for investigation.
The motive behind the coordinated attack remains unknown, and the Electoral Commission has confirmed that formal investigations are underway.