Ablakuma North rerun: My name is on the ballot, I’ll contest – Nana Akua Afriyie

The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma North, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, has broken ranks with her party by declaring her intention to contest the rerun of parliamentary elections in 19 polling stations.

The Greater Accra Regional Director of Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joshua Alabi, has reiterated the party’s commitment to ensuring peace and security during the upcoming parliamentary rerun in Ablekuma North.

His assurance comes amid public concerns over potential security lapses following disruptions to the collation process during the 2024 general elections in the constituency.

Speaking exclusively on Channel One Newsroom on Wednesday, July 9, Mr. Alabi expressed confidence in the preparedness of both the Electoral Commission (EC) and security agencies to conduct a smooth and incident-free rerun at the 19 affected polling stations.

He emphasized that, based on his observations, the security situation appears far more organised than before:

However, the NPP leadership had earlier announced its decision to boycott the rerun scheduled for Friday, July 11, 2025, arguing that their candidate had already secured victory by a margin of 414 votes. The party criticised the Electoral Commission (EC), describing the rerun as a violation of established electoral procedures.

At a press conference on Tuesday, July 8, the NPP’s General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, lashed out at the EC, calling its decision “shameful.”

However, in a surprising twist, Akua Afriyie told Accra-based Neat FM that she would go ahead and contest the rerun. She expressed confidence in retaining her seat, citing strong grassroots support.

“We are voting. If you come to the constituency, you’ll see the massive support I have. Those suggesting I’m not contesting should know my name is on the ballot, and my constituents have assured me of victory,” she stated.

Afriyie’s declaration comes shortly after an Accra High Court dismissed her application for an injunction to halt the rerun. The presiding judge, Justice Ali Baba Abature, ruled on Wednesday, July 9, that her motion lacked merit. He stated that the balance of convenience favoured the EC’s constitutional mandate to ensure electoral representation in the affected areas.