The unresolved outcome of the Ablekuma North parliamentary election continues to cast a long shadow over Ghana’s democratic integrity, months after the 2024 general elections.
Amid growing concern, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has issued a firm call to the Electoral Commission (EC) to urgently chart a clear and decisive path toward completing the collation process in the beleaguered constituency.
Dr. Yohuno underscored the urgency of the matter, warning that continued delays could tarnish the country’s democratic image. “The EC must provide the National Election Security Taskforce with a roadmap for the formalisation of the collation.”
In a climate where confidence in public institutions is closely tied to the credibility of electoral outcomes, this lingering deadlock serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of democratic systems when disputes are allowed to fester.
“Ablekuma North remains the only constituency without a Member of Parliament. This is a pivotal moment. The way we handle the collation in Ablekuma North will resonate across the country. It will set the tone, not only for this election, but also for public confidence in the years to come.”
Dr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno
His concern is not without merit. Ghana’s parliamentary architecture has a gaping hole where representation should exist, and the EC’s inability to finalize the result after several months has stirred unease.
Dr. Yohuno delivered a firm message coupled with a heartfelt appeal, urging that efforts must go beyond protecting ballot boxes to also safeguarding public trust in the electoral system. “Let us not protect just physical lives but also the spirit of democracy.”
Adding to the IGP’s voice, Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ms. Kathleen Addy, appealed directly to the people of Ablekuma North and the wider Ghanaian public.
She urged restraint and a commitment to democratic values, emphasizing the need to accept the eventual outcome.
“My message is to the people of Ghana, particularly the people of Ablekuma North, just to say that we all know that we are in a democracy and elections are part of the democratic culture and system. In every election, there is a winner and there is a loser; there is no middle ground.”
Ms. Kathleen Addy
Delay in Ablekuma North Threatens Democratic Credibility
However, tensions remain high in Ablekuma North as both leading political parties—the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC)—assert their claims to victory.
The Electoral Commission’s continued delay in announcing the official results has led to a significant gap in parliamentary representation, raising issues of credibility in Ghana’s democratic dispensation.
In light of these developments, Ms. Addy urged political stakeholders and their followers to act with restraint and maintain a sense of responsibility.
“We leave to fight another day. It is not the end of the world to lose, and it’s not actually the end of the world to win as well, so let us bear that in mind as we try to conclude this important exercise.”
Ms. Kathleen Addy
The EC, for its part, has signaled its intent to finalize the Ablekuma North parliamentary election results.
However, the body insisted that security assurances from the police are a prerequisite before collation can proceed. The Returning Officer for the constituency has reportedly withheld further action until those guarantees are received.
Meanwhile, IGP Dr. Yohuno and the Electoral Commission are expected to meet soon to iron out the logistics.
As it stands, the absence of a scheduled collation is deepening the legitimacy crisis in the area, and critics argue that both institutional and political inaction are beginning to eat away at public trust.
At the center of the dispute are parliamentary candidates Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie (NPP) and Ewurabena Aubynn (NDC), both of whom remain in limbo as the stalemate persists. Until the official winner is declared, Ablekuma North remains adrift—without a parliamentary voice.
This crisis in Ablekuma North underscores a larger, more worrying issue: electoral processes are only as strong as the institutions that administer them.
And when those institutions hesitate or falter, it is not only ballots that are compromised—it is the very belief in democracy itself.
For the sake of democratic integrity, national cohesion, and effective governance, the finalization of the Ablekuma North parliamentary election must become a national priority.
Dr. Yohuno’s call to action is not simply procedural—it’s a plea to uphold the foundational values of Ghana’s democracy.
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