Franklin Cudjoe, President of policy think tank IMANI Africa, has raised concerns over what he described as overly lenient sentencing for eight individuals convicted of assaulting political figures during a recent parliamentary by-election in Ablekuma North.
The men—Mohammed Abubakari, Tijani Mahmudu, Prince Dzakpasu, Anas Mohammed, Mohammed Hamda, Darko Otibu Samuel, Musah Muntari, and Ali Saeed (alias Bomba)—were convicted by an Accra Circuit Court on August 29 after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a violent altercation at the Methodist Church Polling Station during the August parliamentary re-run.
Each defendant was fined 500 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢6,000 (approximately $450), or face a custodial sentence of up to 24 months if they default on payment.
The incident occurred while former Minister of State and ex-Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Hawa Mavis Koomson, was observing the election alongside other political actors. According to reports, the group was attacked without provocation. Victims of the assault included Koomson, local trader Majeed Mohammed Saana, and Chris Lloyd Nii Kwei, Deputy Organiser of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In a televised interview on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue program, Mr. Cudjoe questioned the efficacy of the sentencing as a deterrent, arguing that the fines imposed may not reflect the severity of the offense or serve as a meaningful safeguard against future electoral violence.
“I’m not too sure, and I’m not happy about the sentencing in the case of Ablekuma,” Cudjoe said. “I think they should have been punished a lot more so that people are deterred from getting involved in acts of violence and electoral hooliganism.”
Electoral violence has been a recurring issue in Ghanaian by-elections, prompting calls from civil society groups and political observers for stricter enforcement of security protocols and more severe penalties for offenders.
While the court’s decision brings a measure of legal closure to the Ablekuma North incident, critics argue that broader institutional reforms may be needed to address the root causes of politically motivated violence and restore public confidence in electoral processes.
