The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has raised serious concerns over the conduct of political parties and security agencies during the Ablekuma North Constituency election rerun held on Friday, July 11, 2025.
In a statement issued on Monday, July 14, and signed by Joseph Oti Frimpong, Coordinator at the CODEO Secretariat, the coalition condemned the violence that disrupted the electoral process and criticised the use of “incendiary and provocative language” by key figures of both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the aftermath.
“It is clear that political party actors are unwilling to learn from the many years of election violence outcomes and the many victims it has produced in the Fourth Republic,” the statement read.
CODEO warned that such rhetoric is particularly dangerous in a post-election environment still grappling with the lingering tensions and violence from the 2024 general elections and the subsequent presidential transition.
The group described the prevailing political atmosphere as increasingly toxic and cautioned that, if not addressed, it could erode the foundations of Ghana’s democracy.
“This toxic political culture must be stamped out of competitive politics, otherwise it will one day overwhelm all of us and destabilise Ghana’s young democracy,” it added.
The coalition further raised concerns about the conduct of police officers during the rerun and demanded accountability.
It called on President John Mahama and the Police Council, acting under Article 202(2) of the 1992 Constitution, to assert their oversight over the Inspector General of Police by launching a thorough inquiry into the police’s handling of political actors during the rerun.
“This must be done urgently to ensure clear remedial actions are taken ahead of the upcoming bye-election in Akwatia,” the statement urged.
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