By Francis Kobena Tandoh
Some 6,000 eligible voters in 19 polling stations within the Ablekuma North Constituency are expected to cast their ballots on Friday in a rerun parliamentary election to decide who represents them in Parliament.
The rerun is aimed at resolving a months-long electoral dispute and restoring representation to a constituency that has remained without a Member of Parliament since the December 7, 2024, general election.
The confusion over the Ablekuma North parliamentary results dates back to the last general elections, when the outcome in 62 polling stations was contested by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The disagreements arose between the country’s two leading political parties over the authenticity of pink sheets and the collation process.
Despite the disagreement, the Electoral Commission (EC) collated results from 59 out of the 62 polling stations, leaving three unresolved, leading to a legal tussle.
In January 2025, the High Court issued a ruling directing the EC to complete the collation and declare results.
However, citing missing endorsements and irregularities in 19 polling stations, the EC later announced plans for a rerun in those areas to ensure electoral integrity and transparency.
Earlier on, the NPP strongly rejected the EC’s decision, arguing that its parliamentary candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, had won the December election with a margin of 414 votes.
The party filed an injunction to halt the rerun but was unsuccessful, as the court dismissed the case on July 9, describing the application as unmeritorious.
Despite the party’s official boycott, Akua Afriyie defied the directive and confirmed her decision to contest in the rerun. “I am contesting. We are fully prepared. We are going for this contest,” she told reporters on July 10.
Her stance received backing from some constituency executives, current and former NPP Members of Parliament, and party faithful, who actively campaigned on her behalf ahead of the vote.
The NPP’s Nana Akua Afriyie and the NDC’s Ewurabena Aubynn are the two contenders in Friday’s parliamentary rerun.
Meanwhile, the country’s electoral management body has reiterated its commitment to conducting a free, fair, and credible rerun. Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, Deputy EC Chair Dr. Bossman Asare assured voters and stakeholders that the commission was determined to bring closure to the matter.
“We are desirous of bringing the election in the Ablekuma North constituency to a conclusion and to ensure that the constituents have a representative in Parliament,” he said.
Security has also been enhanced in the constituency by the Accra Regional Police Command to ensure that the election is conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
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