Members of Parliament from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region have vowed to hold the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and regional security authorities accountable if any further disruptions occur during Monday’s Council of State election.
The MPs are demanding that the venue be moved from the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council to a neutral location to prevent a recurrence of last week’s disturbances.
In the previous election, individuals believed to be members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) task force stormed the voting center, vandalizing ballot materials just as the Electoral Commission was about to declare the results.
Despite the police launching a manhunt for the perpetrators, no arrests have been made so far.
Speaking at a press conference in Kumasi on Sunday, February 16, 2025, the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, reaffirmed that the Ashanti Region NPP caucus will strongly resist any attempts to undermine the people’s will.
“We will hold the current security leadership, specifically the IGP and the chairman of the regional security council, strictly accountable for any further disruptions if they do not change the venue.”
The MPs also raised concerns over the selection of certain government appointees, alleging an attempt to alter the voter album previously used for the election.
“We have also gathered intelligence that certain assemblies are becoming heated with factions attempting to alter their representatives on the electoral role. Reports also indicate the coordinating directors have been instructed to swear in assembly members to render them eligible to vote. We are not closing our minds and eyes to what the law says.
“We know that the prerogatives lie with the president so that he can choose government appointees in the assemblies. But it does not also lie within the ambit and the jurisdiction of the coordinating director to appoint people and make them eligible to vote as far as the Council of State elections are concerned.
“Let us be crystal clear, any attempt to manipulate or destroy the sanctity of our electoral process will be met with resistance,” he stated.
The Council of State elections in the Ashanti Region were disrupted resulting in no clear winner. Consequently, the Electoral Commission has scheduled a re-election for Monday, February 17, to resolve the issue.
In addition to the Ashanti Region, the North East Region will also hold a re-election after the two candidates secured an equal number of votes.
