The main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament has condemned what it described as a wave of lawlessness and violence during last Friday’s parliamentary rerun elections at 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North Constituency.
Minority Leader Osahen Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, in a statement issued just after the polls, accused leading officials of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of orchestrating the violent acts that disrupted voting and threatened public safety.
Consequently, the Minority Caucus has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to President John Dramani Mahama to dismiss the CEO of the Minerals Development Fund and NDC National Women’s Organiser, Dr. Hanna Bissiw; and the Acting CEO of the Youth Employment Agency and NDC Deputy Communications Officer, Mali Basintale, for justifying and celebrating the violent incidents during the Ablekuma North parliamentary election rerun.
According to the Caucus, these two officials, among other government appointees, not only condoned but also took to social media to gloat over the attacks on former Awutu Senya East MP, Mavis Hawa Koomson, and Chris Lloyd Nii Kwei Asamoah, the Deputy National Organiser of the NPP.
“We are deeply concerned by the recurrence of violent disruptions by NDC thugs, led by Malik Basintale and Mustapha Gbande. Videos circulating show them inciting, directing, and ordering acts of violence,” the statement read.
The Minority Leader pointed out that Dr. Hanna Bissiw justified the violence when she remarked that “violence begets violence,” while Malik Basintale made a controversial Facebook post in which he referred to the man who assaulted Hawa Koomson as “The Flying Python” and announced, “He shall be in charge of the 5k Airforce!”
Osahen Afenyo-Markin condemned the violent incidents that marred the parliamentary rerun election in Ablekuma North, describing them as the worst assault on Ghana’s democracy since the return to constitutional rule.
He stressed that the attacks on opposition figures, journalists, and party agents were coordinated acts of electoral terrorism.
“These were not spontaneous outbursts, they were calculated acts of electoral terrorism carried out with military-like precision. The government’s response, or lack thereof, will determine whether Ghana continues as a democratic nation or descends into the chaos of state-sanctioned political violence,” he said.
The Minority Leader detailed what he described as disturbing events at three polling stations.
These were St. Peter’s Society Methodist Church in Odorkor, Awoshie DVLA, and Asiedu Gyedu Memorial School 1.
“At the Odorkor station, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, a former Minister and Member of Parliament, was reportedly attacked and subjected to degrading treatment. The NPP candidate in the race, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, sustained facial injuries and required medical attention.
“Former MP Darkoa Newman and a female party agent were also assaulted.
“In Awoshie, men allegedly affiliated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) dressed in brown uniforms to impersonate security personnel. When stopped and questioned by police, they reportedly failed to provide identification.
“At Asiedu Gyedu Memorial School, NDC supporters allegedly clashed directly with police officers, creating a chaotic and dangerous environment.”
According to Osahen Afenyo-Markin who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu, the most alarming incident was the assault on Chris Lloyd Nii Kwei Asamoah, the Deputy National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“This was a systematic effort to incapacitate NPP leadership at the constituency level. These were not isolated incidents, but part of a carefully orchestrated plan to derail the democratic process,” he stated.
Osahen Afenyo-Markin also questioned the capacity and neutrality of the Ghana Police Service and alleged that officers were unable to prevent or contain the violence. More seriously, allegations were levelled against Chief Superintendent Lumor Frederick Senanu, who is accused of potentially facilitating the attacks.
“These allegations, if substantiated, would represent a grave breach of public trust. The Ghana Police must immediately investigate their failures and restore public confidence,” Osahen Afenyo-Markin said.
He also condemned attacks on journalists covering the rerun, including a JoyNews reporter and GHOne TV’s Agyekum Banahene, who was reportedly assaulted by a police officer at the Church of Pentecost polling station in North Odorkor.
“Press freedom is not a luxury, it is a constitutional necessity. The targeting of journalists shows intent to suppress the truth and intimidate those who report electoral abuse,” he stressed.
The Minority Leader indicated that Friday’s incidents form part of a larger pattern of NDC-orchestrated electoral violence, dating back to December 7, 2024.
“Ghana has long been a beacon of democratic hope in West Africa, but that legacy is now under serious threat,” he lamented.
Osahen Afenyo-Markin placed ultimate responsibility on President Mahama, calling this the defining moment of his second presidency.
“He cannot remain silent while members of his government celebrate violence. Dr. Bissiw and Basintale have disqualified themselves from public service. The President must act now,” he stated.
Minority’s specific demands
Osahen Afenyo-Markin outlined four specific demands to President Mahama, each with strict timelines.
The include the dismissal of Dr. Hanna Bissiw and Malik Basintale within 48 hours for justifying and celebrating political violence and prosecute all perpetrators involved in the attacks, with the police providing daily updates.
The rest are an independent police investigation into the alleged complicity of Chief Superintendent Lumor Frederick Senanu and issuance of a public condemnation of the violence within 24 hours, including a formal apology to victims such as Hawa Koomson and Nana Akua Afriyie.
Osahen Afenyo-Markin called on civil society groups, journalists, and all democratic stakeholders to speak out and urged voters in Ablekuma North not to be intimidated or silenced by the violence.
Stand with democracy or violence
President Mahama, according to the Minority Leader, must choose whether to stand with Ghana’s democratic institutions or with those who celebrate political violence, warning that history will judge him by the decision he makes in the next 48 hours.
Osahen Afenyo-Markin also urged the international community to take keen interest in the unfolding events, warning that Ghana’s long-standing reputation as a beacon of democracy in West Africa is now at stake.
He called on development partners, the African Union, and ECOWAS to closely monitor the Mahama administration’s handling of the crisis and take appropriate steps should democratic principles continue to be undermined.
He appealed to all Ghanaians to reject violence in all its forms and renew their commitment to the democratic values that have sustained the nation since the Fourth Republic.
“Together, we must ensure that Ghana’s democracy remains strong, peaceful, and secure for generations to come,” Oshen Afenyo-Markin.
By Osumanu Al-Hassan
