Francis Asante, who purported to be the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Delta Force vigilante group, was arrested on the evening of Friday, July 18, 2025. The arrest took place at a hideout in Barekese, located in the Atwima Nwabiagya North district of the Ashanti region. This development comes following a viral video in which Asante, also known by the street name Swanzy or Nana Kwasi among close associates, issued grave threats related to the upcoming Akwatia Parliamentary By-election.
In the circulated video, Asante threatened that members of the Delta Force would carry out violent actions and specifically warned that at least one prominent member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) would be targeted and killed during the election period. This alarming threat is reportedly motivated by an alleged grievance against the NPP, who Asante accused of abandoning vigilante members after leveraging their support during the 2016 Presidential elections.
Sources within the national security apparatus have described Asante’s arrest as a proactive security measure intended to maintain peace, safeguard lives, and protect property before, during, and after the upcoming polls. Asante was seen wearing military camouflage in the video, underscoring the severity of the threats and the potential for violence.
Upon arrest, arrangements were swiftly initiated to transport Francis Asante to the capital, Accra, for formal processing ahead of court proceedings. Authorities emphasize that the crackdown on such threats is critical to ensuring a peaceful electoral environment and the safety of all participants in the forthcoming by-election.
This incident highlights the continued challenges Ghana faces regarding election security and the need for vigilant enforcement of the law against individuals or groups that seek to undermine democratic processes through intimidation or violence.
For further information, please refer to the original report from MyJoyOnline: MyJoyOnline.
