By Issah Olegor
In the aftermath of the violent parliamentary rerun in the Ablekuma North Constituency, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has released a series of photos and names of individuals it claims are members of a National Democratic Congress (NDC)-aligned vigilante group responsible for the attacks on its members.
The images, stylized as digital “wanted posters,” began circulating widely on social media platforms late Saturday, July 12, 2025, a day after the election.
Each graphic bears the face of the alleged attackers, most of whom the NPP insists have close ties to known NDC operatives.
Some including known NDC bigwigs have been mentioned as the ringleaders of the group that stormed multiple polling stations during the chaotic rerun.
This exposé comes even as the Ghana Police Service claims it has yet to identify or arrest any suspects in connection with the violence.
The police have urged the public to remain calm while investigations continue, but the NPP insists the evidence is already in plain sight.
We Know Them, and We Will Remember Them
Some NPP youth activists in Accra in series of post on social media, said the party has video evidence from the scene of the violence and have independently identified all the perpetrators.
The footage reportedly shows these individuals in branded NDC apparel, violently attacking NPP polling agents, supporters, and even a parliamentary candidate.
One statement, which has also gone viral online, reads in part: “As you boldly celebrate and embrace violence, can you maintain the heat when the pressure mounts? The NDC is driving our democracy in a dangerous direction. They have made it clear that opposition parties are not safe without vigilante groups.”
The message alludes to the collapse of the NPP’s own vigilante units, such as the Delta Force, following the passage of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act (Act 999) in 2019.
That law, passed in the aftermath of the infamous Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence, was seen as a bold attempt by the Akufo-Addo administration to dismantle political vigilantes.
However, the latest events have prompted many within the NPP to question whether disbanding their task forces has left them vulnerable to violent attacks from opposition elements.
“Now the NDC is giving the NPP enough reason to regret such a good decision,” the statement continued. “Before you beat the drums of war, prepare to hear the sounds of screams.”
Delta Force Reacts: They Abandoned Us, Now Look
Former members of the now-defunct Delta Force group have broken their silence following the Ablekuma North incidents.
Some expressed schadenfreude, mocking the NPP leadership for abandoning them after the 2016 elections.
Speaking anonymously, one former Delta Force commander said, “They called us criminals, stripped us of protection, and now they’re facing the same fire we used to prevent. This is what happens when you betray your own.”
This statement has stirred heated debates on Ghanaian political forums, with some arguing that the disbandment of vigilante groups left a security vacuum that rogue actors are now exploiting.
Dangerous Shift: Democracy Under Threat
The violent disruption of the July 11 rerun was not isolated.
It followed a tense political buildup, with both major parties mobilizing heavily on the ground
Violence erupted at several polling centres, including St. Peter’s Methodist Church in Odorkor, where former Minister Hawa Koomson was brutally assaulted.
Other NPP figures, including parliamentary candidate Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh, narrowly escaped similar attacks.
Multiple journalists were assaulted while covering the election. Yet, no high-level arrests have been made, and the government has been largely silent.
This perceived inaction is fuelling suspicions of political bias and deepening mistrust in law enforcement.
The rhetoric emerging from both political camps now leans toward dangerous escalation.
While the NPP warns of future retaliation, some in the NDC continue to justify the violence, referencing historical grievances like the Ayawaso incident and earlier confrontations in Atiwa and Chereponi.
Nima, Ashaiman, and Kasoa Links
The NPP has claimed that several of the alleged attackers are not residents of Ablekuma North but were transported from violence-prone areas such as Nima, Ashaiman, and Kasoa.
The party believes this was a calculated strategy by the NDC to import intimidation tactics into the constituency during the closely watched rerun.
What Next?
Civil society groups and peacebuilding advocates are now urging the Electoral Commission, the Ghana Police Service, and the National Peace Council to take immediate steps to address the rising political violence.
Many fear that if left unchecked, such incidents could mar the 2028 general elections.
For now, the people of Ablekuma North are left with scars — physical and psychological — as the nation’s democratic integrity hangs in the balance.
The images of the alleged NDC hooligans may be trending, but the bigger picture is a dangerous normalization of violence that threatens the political stability.
