The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has alleged that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is planning to interfere in security arrangements for the upcoming Akwatia by-election by disguising party thugs as police officers.
At a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, 27 August 2025, the party’s communications director, Richard Ahiagbah, stated: “We have reliably been informed that the NDC has been training some of the thugs they deployed in the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun under the guise of National Security and intends to clandestinely clothe some in police uniform to be deployed during the by-election.”
He cautioned that the opposition party should not underestimate the vigilance of the NPP, remarking, “As a party that has just exited government in less than a year, we have our eyes and ears on them, knowing what the NDC is noted for.”
Mr. Ahiagbah further touched on the role of the Ghana Police Service, noting that Inspector General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno had given assurances of transparency. According to him, The IGP has assured us that the police have completed their deployment plan and will make the list of their deployed senior officers available to the various political parties.”
He explained that the NPP expected full disclosure, stressing, “On the honour of the IGP, the NPP demands the requested list of senior officers to be deployed to each electoral area and the regional commanders who will be assisting them.”
The communications director also emphasized the need for proper identification of security officers on election duty: “We also request of the IGP that all police officers on duty for the election must wear their official name tag for easy identification and the avoidance of infiltration by disguised thugs.”
Recalling previous clashes between citizens and the police, he said: “We make this reasonable request with the hindsight of the police brutalities on the non-violent demonstrators, where several were trapped and mercilessly assaulted and one lost his eye in the process.”
Ahiagbah ended with a warning, stressing that the NPP would act to protect itself if state institutions fail to ensure fairness. “Learning from the unresolved incidents from the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun, the New Patriotic Party will defend itself if the state fails to do so,” he warned.
By Bawa Musah
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