BY Grace Zigah
The much-anticipated by-election in the Akwatia Constituency took a violent turn on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, when a confrontation between leaders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) descended into chaos.
The incident, which unfolded at the Akwatia Lorry Station in the Vawaso Electoral Area, saw Alhaji Osman Masawudu, the third Vice Chairman of the NPP, physically assaulted by a member of NDC Vice chairman, Chief Sofo Azorka’s security escort.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that Masawudu was slapped during a heated exchange as police officers looked on before later intervening.
The Spark of the Clash
According to Masawudu, the altercation occurred while he was granting an interview to the press near the Akwatia Zongo area.
He alleged that Chief Azorka, the outspoken National Vice Chairman of the NDC, disrupted the interaction and verbally attacked him.
“This incident happened right in front of the police,” Masawudu told journalists. “
He said Azorka stated that today he will make sure “I will be caned here, myself and Afenyo-Markin.”
The NPP Vice Chairman’s account was corroborated by witnesses, who noted that the situation escalated when one of Azorka’s escorts physically assaulted him, sparking outrage among NPP supporters.
Tensions Rise Between Azorka And Afenyo-Markin
The clash was not an isolated incident. Hours earlier, tensions had already flared between the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, and Azorka when the NPP delegation made an unannounced visit to the NDC constituency office.
The visit, which caught NDC executives off guard, was described by Azorka as a “provocative act” aimed at intimidating their supporters.
Reports suggest that the NPP team was accused of tampering with campaign posters of the NDC candidate, a claim the NPP has yet to respond to.
Visibly enraged, Azorka lashed out, threatening that Afenyo-Markin would “face a by-election in his own constituency” if he attempted any such acts of provocation again.
“What does he want here? Is he an NDC secretary? You people should talk to them,” Azorka fumed.
Police Intervention and Arrest
Despite the heavy security presence in Akwatia for the high-stakes polls, police appeared slow to contain the confrontation.
The Police later confirmed that one person had been arrested in connection with the disturbances but stopped short of clarifying whether the individual was linked to the assault on Masawudu.
The Ghana Police Service has come under renewed pressure from civil society groups and election observers to act decisively to prevent further violence, particularly given Akwatia’s history of contentious elections.
Background to the By-Election
The Akwatia by-election was triggered by the death of the sitting MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi of the NPP.
With more than 50,000 registered voters across 119 polling stations, the constituency has become a fiercely contested battleground between the NPP and the NDC.
The outcome of the election is being closely monitored nationwide, with political analysts noting that it could serve as a bellwether for the 2028 general elections.
Both parties have deployed their top executives to the constituency, raising the stakes and increasing the potential for flashpoints.
Akwatia’s Volatile Election History
Akwatia has a long-standing reputation as a hotspot for election-related violence.
In previous elections, disputes over ballot counting and voter intimidation marred the credibility of the results.
The current by-election, observers say, was expected to be a test case for the Electoral Commission and the police in managing tensions in high-pressure political environments.
