.Parliament is ramping up efforts to prevent electoral violence ahead of the upcoming Akwatia by-election, following unrest during a recent rerun in Ablekuma North.
At a closed-door session held Friday, members of the Defence and Interior, and Security and Intelligence Committees met with the Ministers of Defence and Interior, along with Inspector General of Police George Dampare, to map out preventative measures. The meeting comes amid growing concern over election-related tensions in parts of the country.
Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, chair of the Security and Intelligence Committee, said the new measures are intended to ensure that recent scenes of violence are not repeated. “This is not going to be a one-off incident. We must ensure we learn from what happened and make sure it doesn’t recur,” she told reporters following the in-camera session.
The Akwatia constituency has become a focal point in Ghana’s political calendar after a series of incidents raised questions about the integrity and safety of the electoral process. Parliamentary leaders are pushing for coordinated deployments and early interventions to de-escalate local tensions.
Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, ranking member of the Defence and Interior Committee, stressed the importance of civic responsibility. “We don’t intend to abandon our democracy. Citizens must be able to cast their votes without fear,” he said.
In addition to the Akwatia by-election, lawmakers addressed the volatile security situation in Bawku, a region plagued by protracted conflict. Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings said Parliament had received assurances that new measures were being enforced to restore order.
The parliamentary briefings signal a broader push to safeguard democratic institutions as Ghana prepares for a series of high-stakes political events in the months ahead.
