Election security failures contributed to NPP’s loss of key seats – Justin Frimpong Kodua

The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Lawyer Justin Frimpong Kodua, has contended that his party lost seats in constituencies traditionally held by the NPP due to inadequate security from the Ghana Police Service. 

Kodua stated that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) had assured that every constituency across the country would have sufficient police personnel to provide protection and prevent violence and manipulation during the elections.

However, Kodua believes that these assurances were not met, citing incidents in traditionally NPP-held constituencies where police were present but unable to stop National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters from intimidating presiding officers.

“Under duress, some presiding officers pronounced wins for the NDC even before the collation was completed,” Kodua said, emphasising that in constituencies like Ablekuma North, where the NPP’s candidate, Hon. Akua Owusu Afriyie, won by a margin of 414 votes, the results were still disputed.

“Our candidate obtained 34,613 votes, while the NDC’s candidate got 34,199,” he noted.

Kodua further highlighted similar issues in Tema Central, where the NPP’s candidate, Hon. Forson, had 18,870 votes compared to the NDC’s 18,115, and in Okaikwei Central, where incumbent Patrick Boamah secured 20,229 votes against the NDC’s Baba Saddick, who had 18,783. Kodua pointed out that the NPP would not seek legal redress now, as the EC has not yet completed collation in these constituencies.

“The NDC cannot expect the EC to gazette election results that haven’t been fully collated,” Kodua said.

“The continued interference from NDC supporters disrupted the collation process in many areas. In the Dome Kwabenya, Ahafo Ano North, Aowin, and other constituencies, results were exchanged under suspicious circumstances, favouring the NDC,” he added.

Kodua also mentioned the incident at the Police Training School in Tesano, Accra, where collation resumed smoothly after the disruption in the Eastern Region, showing that it can be done without interference if the proper environment is maintained.

The NPP General Secretary made these disclosures on Monday, December 16, 2024, during an encounter with the media.

He stressed that the NPP is calling for the EC to urgently resume collation and appealed to the national election security task force to provide the necessary security to ensure a peaceful environment for the process.

“We are calling on the NDC leadership to restrain their supporters and allow the EC to carry out its duties without further disruptions”, he added.