The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has expressed serious concern over incidents of violence, intimidation, and vote buying that marred the parliamentary election rerun in the Ablekuma North Constituency on Friday, July 11, 2025.
Although CODEO did not deploy official observers to the 19 polling stations involved in the rerun, the organization cited troubling reports from traditional and social media sources that highlighted significant lapses in security and electoral conduct. These reports included attacks on voters, journalists, and two female political figures.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Joseph Oti Frimpong, CODEO commended the Ghana Police Service for promptly interdicting a police officer accused of assaulting a journalist during the exercise.
However, the coalition urged authorities to ensure swift investigations and the prosecution of all perpetrators to serve as a strong deterrent against future misconduct.
CODEO also condemned inflammatory remarks made by prominent figures within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), warning that such rhetoric threatens Ghana’s democratic stability and undermines public trust in the electoral process.
Particularly alarming, according to CODEO, was the reported failure of security personnel to respond when thugs disrupted voting at the St. Peter’s Society Polling Station in Odorkor.
The coalition questioned the preparedness and neutrality of law enforcement at such critical moments.
CODEO is calling on President John Mahama and the Police Council to launch a formal inquiry into the conduct of police officers assigned to the election and to take immediate steps to safeguard the credibility of upcoming electoral events, including the pending by-election in Akwatia.
Reaffirming its commitment to Ghana’s democratic growth, CODEO pledged to continue advocating for reforms that ensure peaceful, transparent, and inclusive elections across the country.
