Chaos Erupts at Ashanti RegionCouncil of State Elections

The Ashanti Region Council of State elections took a dramatic turn as violence erupted at the voting center, leading to the suspension of the election. Supporters of different candidates are now demanding that the Electoral Commission declare results in their favor, adding to the tension.

Eyewitnesses reported that a group of individuals, allegedly linked to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), stormed the venue, disrupting the process, vandalizing property, and assaulting some participants. This forced officials to halt the election immediately.

Following the incident, conflicting claims have emerged, with some candidates’ teams declaring victory, while others insist that only the Electoral Commission has the mandate to announce the results.

Team Rose Hamilton released a statement yesterday condemning what they described as “barbaric acts” at the election grounds. According to their statement, some of their team members including pressmen were among those assaulted.

Dr. Owusu, in an interview, called on the Ghana Police to investigate the matter urgently. “Ghana is not a banana republic where people can engage in lawless behavior and go scot-free. The law must take its course, and the perpetrators must be brought to justice,” he stated. He also emphasized the need for tighter security during elections to prevent such incidents in the future.

An Electoral Commission official confirmed that all election materials were destroyed by the attackers. Additionally, after returning to their office, some staff members were reportedly assaulted. He stated that the commission has not yet declared a winner and is awaiting further instructions on whether a re-election will be held.

Authorities are yet to announce their next course of action as the region remains on edge.

By Sibo Yamoah