A heated political confrontation erupted Tuesday during Ghana’s by-election in the Akwatia Constituency, where a senior official of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) was allegedly assaulted by a member of the opposition’s security detail in the presence of police officers.
Alhaji Osman Masawudu, the NPP’s Third National Vice Chairman, said he was physically attacked while granting an interview near the Akwatia Zongo area, where he had been assigned to monitor polling activities. The altercation reportedly involved a member of the personal escort of Chief Sofo Azorka, a Vice Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“In the middle of the interview, Azorka approached aggressively and disrupted the interaction,” Masawudu told reporters. “He made threats, saying I would be caned here today—along with Afenyo-Markin—all in full view of the police.”
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the confrontation escalated quickly, culminating in Masawudu being slapped by a member of Azorka’s team before security personnel intervened to separate the parties. As of Tuesday evening, no arrests had been confirmed.
The incident unfolded at the Akwatia Lorry Station in the Vawaso Electoral Area, one of 119 polling zones where more than 50,000 registered voters are participating in a by-election to replace the late MP Ernest Kumi. The contest pits the NPP’s Solomon Kwame Asumadu against the NDC’s Bernard Bediako Baidoo in a race viewed as an early gauge of national political sentiment ahead of the 2028 general elections.
Tuesday’s scuffle marks the latest in a series of confrontations between supporters of the country’s two dominant parties. Despite a robust police deployment, both the NPP and NDC have traded accusations of intimidation and misconduct throughout the day.
Ghana’s Electoral Commission has not issued a statement on the incident, though officials previously assured the public of a peaceful and transparent electoral process.
