Ghana’s top law enforcement official said Wednesday that eight individuals have been taken into custody following a spate of violent incidents that marred a recent parliamentary by-election in the capital city’s Ablekuma North constituency.
Inspector General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno confirmed the arrests during a meeting with leaders of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Accra, describing the suspects as connected to assaults that took place during a rerun vote on July 11. Among the victims were three journalists and several political operatives.
“The Accra Regional Commander, as of yesterday, said he had eight suspects,” Dr. Yohuno said. “They are being processed, and from the advice I had from the Regional Commander, tomorrow or Friday, they will be put before the court.”
The by-election, which involved voting across 19 polling stations, descended into chaos as clashes erupted between alleged party supporters and members of the public. Graphic video footage circulated widely online, drawing swift condemnation from civil society groups and raising fresh concerns about election security in the West African nation.
The Inspector General said the police are pursuing justice for the victims and indicated that internal investigations are ongoing into the conduct of officers present during the disturbances.
“We will make sure that whatever happens, justice will be done to those who in one way or the other, did not do their work in a professional manner,” Dr. Yohuno told reporters.
He reaffirmed the Police Service’s zero-tolerance stance on misconduct and emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust in Ghana’s electoral process. “The integrity of our elections depends on the professionalism of law enforcement,” he said.
The Ablekuma North rerun followed a disputed election result and forms part of a broader test of Ghana’s institutional resilience ahead of the country’s 2028 general elections.
