Tension in Ablekuma North as Akua Afriyie Rejects Parliamentary Rerun

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma North in the 2024 general elections Akua Afriyie has strongly rejected the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to rerun the parliamentary election in 19 polling stations within the constituency.

Speaking in an interview on Atumpan on AsaasePa 107.3 FM, Afriyie expressed her disappointment describing the EC’s decision as a shocking U-turn that she believes undermines the credibility of Ghana’s electoral process.

According to Afriyie the results from all but three polling stations were collated during the 2024 general elections. She explained that her team had been waiting for months for the final declaration of results.

The people of Ablekuma North voted massively. We were left with just three polling stations to complete collation. Now, all of a sudden the EC says 19 polling stations will be rerun, she said, questioning the basis for the decision.

The Electoral Commission has explained that the rerun is necessary because scanned copies of Pink Sheets from 19 polling stations were used during the collation process without verification by the Presiding Officers, even though they were accepted by party agents at the time.

However, Afriyie maintains that the scanned copies, carbon copies and soft copies of the results all contain the same figures as those recorded on the official Pink Sheets.

She further accused the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of mounting pressure on the Electoral Commission to reverse its earlier position and force a rerun.

This is a clear attempt to snatch the seat from us, she alleged adding that she secured 34,613 votes compared to the NDC’s 34,199 votes, giving her a lead of 414 votes.

I will not accept any rerun. We have gone through the collation process. What has changed? What did I do wrong? she asked.

The Electoral Commission has scheduled the rerun for July 11, 2025, and has assured the public of a free, fair and transparent process. Despite this assurance, tensions remain high within the constituency as both major political parties prepare for what is expected to be a hotly contested rerun.

Observers have called on all stakeholders to maintain peace and allow the electoral process to proceed lawfully to protect the country’s democratic gains.