Voters in the  Ablekuma North constituency return to the polls today in a tightly contested parliamentary rerun that could finally resolve a months-long electoral dispute and restore parliamentary representation to the area.

The rerun, taking place across 19 polling stations, follows protracted legal battles and allegations of irregularities stemming from the December 2024 general elections. Since then, the seat has remained vacant—its future suspended in political limbo as rival parties clashed over vote tabulation and procedural transparency.

A Disputed Mandate

The controversy centers on disputed results from 62 polling stations in Ablekuma North. Following a contested collation process between Ghana’s two major political parties—the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC)—the Electoral Commission (EC) certified results from 59 stations, but withheld declaration citing irregularities in the remaining three.

In January, a High Court ordered the EC to finalize the collation and declare a winner. But after further scrutiny revealed what the EC described as “missing endorsements and procedural anomalies” in 19 stations, the Commission opted instead for a limited rerun—seeking to safeguard electoral integrity amid mounting public and political pressure.

NPP Rift: Boycott vs. Ballot

The EC’s decision ignited a firestorm within the NPP. The party maintains that its candidate, former Member of Parliament Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, won the original election by a 414-vote margin and called the rerun both unnecessary and unlawful.

On July 9, the High Court rejected an NPP-led injunction to halt the rerun, clearing the way for Friday’s vote. Despite the party’s official boycott, Owusu Afriyie has defied the directive, breaking ranks to continue her campaign.

“I am contesting. We are fully prepared. We are going for this contest,” she told reporters Thursday. Her stance has drawn support from several constituency leaders and a faction of party faithful, highlighting internal tensions over strategy and loyalty.

NDC Eyes Opportunity

For the NDC, the rerun represents a renewed opportunity to flip a historically NPP-leaning seat. The party insists its candidate, Ewurabena Aubynn, won fairly in December, and has poured resources into a vigorous ground campaign over the past several weeks.

“The people of Ablekuma North are ready for change, and Ewurabena Aubynn represents that change,” said NDC’s Greater Accra Regional Director of Elections, Joshua Alabi, during a final campaign rally.

Victory in Ablekuma North would not only bolster the NDC’s parliamentary tally but also serve as a symbolic win in the Greater Accra Region—a swing area critical to national outcomes.

As polls open, all eyes turn to the voters of Ablekuma North to determine whether the rerun will finally bring closure—or ignite fresh political friction in Ghana’s high-stakes democratic arena.

Source:TheDotNews