The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has issued a sharp rebuke of the Ghana Police Service following what it described as serious security failures during the parliamentary rerun held on Friday, July 11, 2025, in the Ablekuma North Constituency.
The group warned that such lapses represent a “clear and present danger” to Ghana’s democratic integrity.
The criticism stems from a violent incident at the St. Peter’s Society Methodist Church polling station, where police officers allegedly failed to intervene as unidentified individuals stormed the center and disrupted the voting process.
Several individuals were reportedly assaulted, including former MP for Awutu Senya East, Hawa Koomson, NPP parliamentary candidate Nana Akua Afriyie, the party’s deputy national organiser Chris Lloyd Asamoah, and two journalists covering the election.
In a statement released Monday, July 14, CODEO condemned the police for what it called a “glaring failure” to safeguard voters, election officials, and political party agents—despite a visible security presence.
“The security lapses observed during this election rerun—despite the visible police presence—raise very serious questions about the state of the Ghana Police Service,” the statement read.
CODEO further alleged that unauthorised individuals, believed to be political vigilantes, were seen moving freely in and around polling centres—some in unregistered vehicles—creating a climate of fear and intimidation.
The coalition described the situation as particularly alarming given the urban setting and the high stakes of the rerun, emphasizing that this pattern of inaction by the police echoes similar concerns raised during the 2024 general elections and subsequent transition period.
“This continued emasculation of the Ghana Police Service risks undermining public confidence in our democratic processes and poses a threat to national security,” CODEO warned.
The group has called on President John Mahama and the Police Council to urgently invoke their authority under Article 202(2) of the 1992 Constitution to initiate immediate and decisive action.
CODEO also appealed to all stakeholders—including political parties, the Electoral Commission, security agencies, and the judiciary—to take proactive steps to curb electoral violence, dismantle political vigilantism, and reinforce the independence of the police.
“Failure to act decisively could imperil Ghana’s democratic future and jeopardize the integrity of upcoming electoral processes, including the imminent bye-election in Akwatia,” the statement concluded.
