NPP Cautions IGP and REGSEC Over Disruptions During Ashanti Region Council of State Election

Members of Parliament from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region have issued a strong warning to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the regional security leadership, stressing that they will be held accountable if further disruptions occur during the Council of State elections scheduled for Monday.

The MPs are also calling for the election venue to be moved from the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council to a neutral location to prevent a repeat of the disturbances witnessed during the previous election. The NPP lawmakers believe that relocating the venue is crucial to ensure a fair and transparent election process.

In the previous election, an incident took place where individuals, allegedly associated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) task force, stormed the voting center. The attackers destroyed ballot materials just as the Electoral Commission was preparing to announce the results, causing chaos and halting the proceedings. While the police have launched a manhunt for the perpetrators, there have been no arrests made so far.

Addressing the issue at a press conference in Kumasi on Sunday, February 16, 2025, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, emphasized that the NPP caucus in the Ashanti Region would not tolerate any attempt to undermine the will of the people. He expressed disappointment that such disruptions had occurred, undermining the electoral process.

Assafuah made it clear that the NPP would hold the IGP and the regional security council chairman accountable for any further disruptions if the election venue was not relocated. He urged that immediate steps be taken to ensure that the election could proceed smoothly without interference.

“We will not allow any further disruptions, and we will hold the security leadership, particularly the IGP and the chairman of the regional security council, accountable if they fail to change the venue,” Assafuah stated firmly.

In addition to their concerns about the venue, the MPs also raised alarms about the selection of certain government appointees, suggesting there may be attempts to alter the voter register used in the election. They claimed that intelligence reports indicated rising tensions within certain local assemblies, with factions attempting to manipulate the electoral roll. There were also reports that some coordinating directors had been directed to swear in new assembly members, making them eligible to vote in the Council of State elections, despite the fact that the process may have been outside the bounds of the law.

“We are not turning a blind eye to what the law says. We are aware that the president has the constitutional right to appoint government representatives to the assemblies, but it is beyond the authority of coordinating directors to appoint individuals and allow them to vote in the Council of State elections,” Assafuah continued. He emphasized that any attempts to manipulate the election process would be met with strong resistance from the NPP.

“We want to make it clear that any attempt to undermine the sanctity of our electoral process will face opposition. We will not sit idly by and watch as the integrity of our democracy is compromised,” he added.

The disruption during the initial Council of State election in the Ashanti Region had resulted in no clear winner, which prompted the Electoral Commission to schedule a re-election for Monday, February 17, 2025, to resolve the issue. Alongside the Ashanti Region, the North East Region will also hold a re-election after two candidates there received an equal number of votes, further emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the electoral process is free from interference or manipulation.

The NPP MPs’ statements reflect their determination to protect the integrity of the election process and to prevent any further disruptions that could compromise the fairness and transparency of the vote. By demanding the relocation of the venue and highlighting concerns over potential electoral fraud, the NPP is making it clear that they are committed to ensuring that the Council of State elections are conducted in a fair and lawful manner.