The National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate, Ewurabena Aubynn, has been declared winner of the Ablekuma North constituency parliamentary election.
She polled 34,090 votes, while her sole contender, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), secured 33,881 votes, with 411 rejected ballots.
Before the rerun in 19 polling stations, Ms Afriyie was leading with 32,512 votes from 262 out of the 281 polling stations, while Ms Aubynn had 32,464; a margin of just 48 votes. However, the tide turned in Ms Aubynn’s favour following Friday’s rerun, breaking the NPP’s 28-year dominance in the Ablekuma North constituency.
Apart from the 1992 elections, which the NPP boycotted, the party had held the seat consistently from 1996 to 2020.
The Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun was held to resolve disputes over results from the 2024 general elections in the constituency.
This victory brings the NDC’s total parliamentary seats to 185.
Incidents
The rerun was largely peaceful, although incidents at two of the 19 polling stations threatened to mar the exercise. There were also allegations of vote buying.
Notably, former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson, was allegedly assaulted by thugs at the Methodist Church, Odorkor 1 polling station. The incident occurred before midday and temporarily halted voting at the station.
Another incident involved the assault of a journalist with GHOne TV, Agyekum Banahene, who was allegedly slapped by a police officer at the Church of Pentecost North Odorkor polling station in Tsuimami.
A statement issued by the Ghana Police Service confirmed that the officer involved in the assault had been interdicted pending investigations.
On the assault of Ms Koomson, eyewitnesses reported that she had earlier visited the polling station and returned a second time. Her refusal to leave, despite a police directive, reportedly angered some individuals who attacked her. Ms Koomson allegedly used pepper spray in an attempt to defend herself but was nonetheless assaulted. She was eventually rescued and escorted out through a back exit by security personnel.
Prior to the disruption at around 11am, the presiding officer, Maame Ama Gyanfuah, stated that 126 out of 464 eligible voters had cast their ballots.
Observation
The Daily Graphic team observed a physical altercation between some party supporters at the entrance of the church premises. Calm was restored around 11:40am after police prevented the thugs from re-entering.
Senior NDC party officials present at the station included Deputy General Secretary Mustapha Gbande, Head of Legal Affairs Edudzi Tamakloe, and Deputy Communications Director Malik Basintale.
Among the NPP officials seen monitoring the election were MP for Akuapem North Sammi Awuku, MP for Assin South Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, former Greater Accra Regional Minister Titus Glover, and former Minister of Health Dr Bernard Okoe Boye.
The NDC National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, was also seen touring polling stations.
Other centres
Voting continued in other polling stations. Aside from the Odorkor Tsuimami incident, the process was generally smooth at the other centres visited by the Daily Graphic team.
At the Church of Pentecost North Odorkor 2 polling station in Tsuimami, Presiding Officer Abdulai Saani reported that 22 out of 67 voters had cast their ballots as at 9:40am. At the North Odorkor 4 station, 31 out of 137 voters had voted as at 9:45am.
At the Presbyterian Church Odorkor 4 station, presiding officer Abdul Kadiri reported that 41 out of 112 voters had voted as at 10am. At the Living Spring Day Nursery Kwashie Bu 1 station, 180 out of 428 voters had voted by 10:40am. William Damptey, presiding officer at the Lord’s Pentecostal Church Kwashie polling station C, said 165 out of 563 had voted by 11am.
Gratitude
The MP-elect, Ms Aubynn, who was present at the Greater Accra Regional EC Office, the final collation centre, expressed her gratitude to constituents for giving her the mandate.
She acknowledged that while the journey had not been smooth, the constituents never gave up on her. “You stood by me and made sure I became your true representative in Parliament,” she said.
Ms Aubynn also thanked NDC executives at both the national and regional levels for their support throughout the process.
She assured constituents that she would work to represent their interests and ensure they receive their fair share of the national development agenda.
