IGP Tetteh Yohuno Warns NDC and NPP Supporters Ahead of Akwatia By-Election
- IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno has warned NDC and NPP supporters against causing chaos during the Akwatia by-election
- He said anyone who foments trouble or carries weapons will be decisively dealt with by the police
- The police have met stakeholders, including the EC and political parties, to ensure peace and security for the polls
- Yakub Alfa Suleiman, the founder of the Journalists Network for Peace and Security (JNePS), shared his views on this in a discussion with YEN.com.gh
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The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has sent a stern warning to supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the Akwatia parliamentary by-election.
Speaking to the media, the IGP stated any individual who attempts to foment trouble at Akwatia would be decisively dealt with.
Source: Facebook
"If you come with any intention of causing trouble, we won't allow you to go free," he reportedly said.
Mr Yohuno said the Ghana Police Service is ready to ensure a peaceful atmosphere, protecting lives and property, before, during and after the Akwatia by-election.
He also cautioned the supporters of the candidates contesting in the elections to avoid carrying weapons to any of the polling stations.
"If you come with arms, we will deal with you with arms," the IGP further warned.
Read the IGP's reported speech here:
Police meet stakeholders ahead of Akwatia
Meanwhile, the IGP and members of the Police Management Board (POMAB) have engaged various stakeholders ahead of the Akwatia by-election to discuss security arrangements to ensure peace, law and order.
Held on Tuesday, 19 August 2025, the meeting enabled the hierarchy of the Ghana Police Service to outline security arrangements for the election to political parties and take note of their concerns.
Source: Facebook
Party representatives from both the NPP and NDC appreciated the engagement and, among other points, called for fairness and transparency in security deployment to foster trust in the process.
The meeting with the political parties follows a similar engagement with the leadership of the Electoral Commission (EC) on Tuesday, 12 August 2025, to discuss the broader roadmap for the polls.
The discussions centred on coordination between the Police and the EC to ensure smooth operations before, during and after the election.
During the meeting, the EC also outlined its operational roadmap for conducting the by-election.
Similarly, on Wednesday, 13 August 2025, the Police also engaged with the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) at the National Police Headquarters.
At the meeting, IDEG highlighted concerns related to electoral security, transparency, and the role of stakeholders in sustaining public confidence in the process.
What necessitated the Akwatia by-election
The Akwatia by-election, scheduled for Tuesday, September 2, 2025, was triggered by the passing of the area's Member of Parliament, Ernest Yaw Kumi.
He died at Lister Hospital in Accra on Monday, July 7, 2025, after a short illness.
Both the ruling NPP and opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have selected their candidates for the by-election.
The NPP endorsed Solomon Kwame Asumadu as its parliamentary candidate without holding a primary.
The NDC elected Bernard Bediako Baidoo, a private legal practitioner, to contest the seat against the NPP’s candidate.
JNePS founder urges calm during upcoming elections
Reacting to this in a discussion with YEN.com.gh, Yakub Alfa Suleiman, the founder of the Journalists Network for Peace and Security (JNePS), noted that, as a democracy, Ghana should expect some level of violence during elections, but the gravity of it depends on how the situation is managed.
He acknowledged that every election would likely have some pockets of violence, ranging from verbal exchanges to physical attacks, and emphasised that it was crucial for stakeholders to manage these situations effectively.
Mr Suleiman identified the Electoral Commission, political parties, and security services as key stakeholders responsible for minimising electoral violence. He stressed that these stakeholders, particularly the Electoral Commission, political parties, and security services, should work together to ensure a peaceful election process and reduce the incidence of politically motivated violence.
He emphasised the importance of collaboration among these stakeholders in preventing electoral violence from becoming a serious issue and ensuring the safety and security of those participating in the election process.
"Interestingly, when it comes to issues of election violence, we, as a democracy, should know that there will always be an expectation of some level of violence during elections. However, the gravity of it depends on how we manage the situation. First of all, it's important to acknowledge that every election will surely have some pockets of violence. Some might be as minimal as verbal exchanges, while others could involve the use of ammunition to attack people. In all these cases, as I mentioned earlier, it is up to us to decide how to manage the situation in a way that prevents it from becoming a serious issue or affecting individuals participating in the election process," he said.
"Now, the question is, what can be done to eliminate politically motivated violence in Ghana? First of all, those in charge of managing our elections, beyond the Electoral Commission, include other stakeholders. One of the major stakeholders is the political parties involved in the election. Then there are the security services, which are responsible for ensuring public safety and security, and they also play a crucial role in maintaining a peaceful election process. So, the Electoral Commission is one key player, the political parties are the second, and the security services are the third. These are the people who should ensure that pockets of electoral violence are minimised," he added.
Source: Facebook
NPP youth organiser speaks on Awatia by-election
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that the Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, reiterated his party's resolve to win the Akwatia by-election.
The Akwatia by-election, slated for Tuesday, 2 September 2025, was necessitated by the untimely death of the Member of Parliament for the area, Ernest Yaw Kumi.
He suggested that the late MP's soul would not have forgiven the party if they had failed to retain the seat in his memory.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
