NPP warns of alleged plot to infiltrate Akwatia by-election with fake police officers

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised concern over an alleged plot to infiltrate the Akwatia by-election with individuals posing as police officers.

The party says intelligence it has picked indicates that some persons from the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions plan to disguise themselves in police uniforms to interfere with the polls.

NPP National Youth Organiser, Salam Mustapha, who disclosed the alleged plot on Sunday, August 31, said the development poses a threat to the integrity of the by-election if fake police officers are allowed to operate.

He noted that the party had drawn the attention of the Ghana Police Service to the alleged plan to use fake police officers and urged swift action to prevent it from disrupting Tuesday’s election.

Mr. Mustapha further insisted that only properly identified officers with standard uniforms and visible name tags should be deployed, stressing that no masked officer should be accepted at the polling stations.

“At our engagement with the police, we made it clear that we expect professional conduct. Every officer must be in uniform with a visible name tag. If we encounter any masked officer claiming to be with the police, we will not recognise that person as legitimate,” he stated.

The NPP youth leader explained that preventing infiltration was necessary to protect the credibility of the by-election and secure public confidence in the process.

The Akwatia by-election is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2, and the police are expected to provide adequate security to ensure peace and order.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it is set to hand the New Patriotic Party (NPP) a heavy defeat in the upcoming Akwatia by-election.

Deputy Director of Elections and IT for the NDC, Rashid Tanko Computer, made the claim following the latest Global Info Analytics poll, which projected the party’s candidate, Bernard Baidoo Bediako, to secure 53% of the vote, while the NPP’s Solomon Asumadu was expected to get 47%. The NDC insists that it is poised to deliver a heavy defeat to the NPP in the September 2 contest.

Speaking in an interview on Friday, August 29, 2025, Mr. Tanko Computer said the party’s extensive groundwork in the constituency was paying off. He highlighted that the NDC’s strong presence across communities was translating into voter support, positioning the party to deal a heavy defeat to the NPP.

“We have been everywhere in the constituency, engaging residents and ensuring our message reaches all corners. I am confident that we are going to win massively on Tuesday,” he said.

He added that the party intends to consolidate the gains reflected in the poll by intensifying its activities in key areas. “The projections confirm that our efforts are yielding results. In these remaining days, we will further boost our visibility to ensure the people see and appreciate the government’s and the president’s achievements,” Mr. Tanko Computer said.