Deputy Director of Elections and IT of the National Democratic Congress, Rashid Tanko-Computer, has revealed that certain former government appointees may face arrest during the upcoming Akwatia by-election.
He explained that these individuals, who have consistently ignored official invitations to account for their stewardship under the former administration, have been placed under close security watch.
According to him, the by-election, slated for September 30, 2025, could provide the perfect opportunity for security agencies to apprehend them.
“In order to bring sanity, other agencies are tracing certain people; they want to arrest them but they can’t get them. In this by-election, some people will appear there, and they will arrest them.
“The linkage is that some people are fugitives – They need to answer certain questions. State agencies have extended invitations for them to come, but they have not; some of them are dodging, and they have run away. When they go to Akwatia, they will be arrested”
Rashid Tanko-Computer, NDC Deputy Director of Elections and IT
Tanko-Computer also alleged that similar attempts had been made by security agencies to apprehend former appointees during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
The Akwatia by-election follows the death of Hon. Ernest Kumi, the New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for the constituency. The Electoral Commission has confirmed the date of the poll and assured residents of its readiness to conduct a credible exercise.
Deputy Director of Research at the EC, Fred Tetteh, emphasised the Commission’s preparedness. “The Commission will do its utmost best in providing the logistics, arrangements, training and what it takes to have the election smooth and peaceful,” he said.
Security and Electoral Concerns
The NDC’s Deputy Director of Elections and IT also assured that his party is fully prepared to observe security arrangements, noting that every effort must be made to prevent violence or disruptions.
“We have invested a lot, and the NDC is battle-ready for Akwatia. We’re respecting the police with their structure – the plan they have put in place. Nobody is going to bring pepper spray there.
“Everybody is going to be searched. All the entrances of Akwatia will be cordoned, and they will search everybody, especially NPP ladies’ bags, because we don’t trust them. They have a history of carrying pepper spray”
Rashid Tanko-Computer, NDC Deputy Director of Elections and IT
“The NPP must educate its followers and members on electoral laws to prevent confusion during elections,” Tanko-Computer cautioned, linking the need for stringent checks to incidents that marred earlier polls
The NDC has declared its determination to reclaim the seat, with Tanko-Computer expressing optimism about the outcome of the contest.
“We will hand them a heavy defeat in that election. They are going to lose. NDC is going to win and I can assure you by 5:20 thereabout the media will break the news. Akwatia is green”
Rashid Tanko-Computer, NDC Deputy Director of Elections and IT
His comments come amid intense campaigning by both the NDC and the ruling New Patriotic Party in Akwatia, a constituency that has historically witnessed close electoral contests.
The NDC official insisted that the upcoming contest would not only secure victory for his party but also mark a turning point for their opponents. “The NPP needs a reset and we will help them reset their party,” Tanko-Computer remarked.
His strong words, coupled with the looming possibility of arrests at the by-election, have heightened public interest in Akwatia ahead of September 30. The stakes remain high as the constituency braces for what is expected to be one of the most heated political contests of the year.
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