Voting is currently taking place in the Ablekuma North constituency as the Electoral Commission (EC) conducts a parliamentary rerun in 19 polling stations. This exercise, scheduled for today, Friday, July 11, 2025, aims to resolve ongoing disputes regarding the outcome of the December 7, 2024, general elections.
The rerun was prompted by concerns about the credibility of results from several polling stations. After facing legal challenges and discrepancies during the collation process—particularly with unauthenticated pink sheets—the EC decided to organize fresh voting to ensure fairness, transparency, and compliance with constitutional requirements.
Despite the EC’s justification for the rerun, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) strongly opposed this decision, labelling it as “unjust” and arguing that it deviated from a High Court ruling that directed the collation and declaration of results from the outstanding polling stations. The party subsequently announced a boycott of the rerun and sought legal and administrative means to stop the process, but their efforts were dismissed by the courts.
In a surprising turn, the NPP’s parliamentary candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, broke ranks with her party by declaring her intention to participate in the rerun. Her defiance has drawn mixed reactions from within the party, although some local executives and Members of Parliament have publicly backed her decision and joined her campaign efforts in the constituency.
Addressing the media in Accra on Thursday, July 10, the EC’s Deputy Chairman in charge of Corporate Services, Dr. Bossman Asare, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to conducting a credible electoral process. He dismissed claims of political interference or bias, emphasizing the EC’s independence.
“On our part as the electoral management body, 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,” Dr. Asare stated.
He further stressed: “We assure the public and the political parties that, as always, we will live by our motto and ensure that the rerun is fair, transparent, and credible.”
Security has been tightened across all affected polling stations, with EC officials and observers deployed to ensure a smooth and orderly voting process.
The outcome of the rerun is expected to determine whether the NPP retains its hold on the constituency or whether the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), whose candidate Ewurabena Aubynn is also in the race, can flip the seat in its favour.
By: Leticia Osei