Political analyst Dr. Kwasi Amakye Boateng has described the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) refusal to participate in the rerun of parliamentary elections in 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North Constituency as a calculated attempt to avoid a humiliating defeat.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Joshua Kodjo Mensah on Wednesday, July 9, Dr. Amakye Boateng said the NPP’s decision reflects internal disarray and fear of another electoral blow.
“Simply withdrawing, giving themselves a face-saving. They don’t want to go into that rerun and then be routed the way things happened the last time. I think it is a face-saving tactic. They know they will be defeated terribly,” he said.
Dr. Boateng suggested that even core NPP supporters remain disillusioned and may not show up to vote, unlike their NDC counterparts who appear more energized.
He added, “Even if there had been no such incidents and the NPP were to participate actively, their followers would not be motivated enough to really go out there to show anything. They are still traumatized by the bad governance that they were taking through the last time around. They are still traumatized.”
The Electoral Commission (EC), in a statement dated Wednesday, July 2, announced that fresh elections would be held in the 19 affected polling stations on Friday, July 11, 2025.
This development follows months of disagreement between the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the December 2024 parliamentary results.
While the EC maintains that 18 out of the 37 disputed polling stations had verified results, the remaining 19 lacked proper verification, prompting the decision to rerun the polls.
The NPP has rejected the decision, calling it unlawful and threatening legal action.
However, the High Court in Accra dismissed an injunction application filed by NPP parliamentary candidate Nana Akua Afriyie, stating that the EC has a constitutional duty to ensure electoral representation and that any delay would be detrimental to constituents.
Despite these rulings, the NPP insists the EC is setting a dangerous precedent.
Ablekuma North has been without a Member of Parliament since December 2024 due to the unresolved election dispute.
The EC has assured the public that adequate security measures will be in place, in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, to ensure a peaceful and credible rerun on July 11.
