The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has expressed confidence in the conduct of the ongoing Akwatia by-election, stating that the peaceful and well-coordinated process could serve as a model for future elections in Ghana.
During a visit to the Akwatia constituency to inspect security arrangements, the IGP commended both the electorate and security personnel for maintaining order at polling centers.
“Everything is progressing smoothly as planned. Our goal is to ensure a peaceful and successful election,” he told the press on Tuesday, September 2.
Dr. Yohuno praised the police deployment strategy, revealing that high-ranking officials, including all regional commanders and members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), were actively on the ground, working alongside field officers.
“I’m very satisfied with my officers’ performance. All regional commanders and POMAB members are fully involved and present in the field. So far, everything is going very well,” he said.
The IGP reiterated the Ghana Police Service’s commitment to preventing election-related violence, referencing past incidents as lessons learned.
“The violence we saw in places like Ablekuma North is behind us. We’re moving forward. This election will set the tone for future electoral processes,” he assured.
The by-election, prompted by the passing of Akwatia’s sitting Member of Parliament, is being held across 119 polling stations, with over 50,000 registered voters expected to cast their ballots. Despite the overall calm, isolated tensions briefly disrupted the otherwise orderly process.
One such incident involved a clash between leading figures of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). Tempers flared when NDC Vice Chairman Chief Sofo Azorka reacted angrily to an unannounced visit by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to the NDC office, calling the visit “provocative” and “disrespectful,” and accusing the NPP of attempting to intimidate party supporters.
The situation escalated further when Alhaji Osman Masawudu, the NPP’s Third National Vice Chairman, became involved in a confrontation with a member of Azorka’s escort team near the Akwatia Zongo area, where Masawudu was monitoring the election.
Eyewitnesses say the altercation turned physical, with one of Azorka’s escorts allegedly slapping Masawudu before police officers intervened to de-escalate the situation. As of now, no arrests have been made.
Despite this, security officials maintain that the overall election atmosphere remains stable and under control.
