Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Ghana’s Minister for Defence, has called on voters to maintain peace during the ongoing election rerun at 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North constituency. His appeal came in response to a violent outbreak at the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station, where former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Hawa Koomson, was reportedly assaulted.
Dr. Boamah, accompanied by Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak, visited the scene shortly after the incident and strongly condemned the disruption. Addressing the media, he emphasized, “This is a civil exercise and we are not at war. What happened in Ayawaso West Wuogon should not be repeated. It must be a peaceful exercise where citizens can freely exercise their voting rights.”
The Defence Minister underscored the importance of adhering to peaceful conduct and assured that any form of violence or disturbance would be thoroughly investigated and appropriately managed by the Ghana Police Service. “Any challenges arising will be addressed by the police, and we trust in their professionalism,” he stated.
Highlighting the role of law enforcement, Dr. Boamah praised the police as a highly professional institution and urged the public to cooperate fully during the election process. “When the police refrain from using force, it does not mean they are inactive. We must give them maximum cooperation to ensure a smooth election,” he advised.
The violent episode occurred when unidentified individuals arrived in a pickup truck and forcibly entered the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station, despite police presence. The group reportedly proceeded to the voting area and assaulted individuals on-site. Security personnel have since regained control, and calm has been restored at the location.
For further details, visit the original report on MyJoyOnline.
