BY Daniel Bampoe
Tensions between the two leading political parties have deepened following controversy over the alleged arrest of Awudu Sofo Azorka, A National Vice Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has cast doubt on police claims that Azorka has been taken into custody in connection with a violent incident at the Akwatia by-election earlier this month.
The by-election, held on September 2, 2025, turned chaotic after Osman Masawudu, the NPP’s Third National Vice Chairman, accused Azorka of physically assaulting him.
The incident drew widespread condemnation and renewed calls for political parties to rein in their supporters during electoral contests.
On Wednesday, September 10, the Eastern South Regional Police Command announced that Azorka had been arrested in Tamale as part of ongoing investigations.
According to the police, he was granted bail after giving a caution statement and instructed to report to the Regional Command in Kyebi on Tuesday, September 16, where he is expected to be formally arraigned before the court.
“The suspect has been cautioned and released on bail to report to the Regional Command on the said date,” the police confirmed in a statement.
However, Masawudu has publicly questioned the authenticity of this claim.
Speaking to JoyNews on Friday, September 12, he said he had received conflicting information from investigators handling the case.
He recounted how he was initially assured that Azorka would be arrested by Friday, only to later learn that the police were still waiting for the NDC vice chairman to voluntarily report himself.
“They told me they would arrest Azorka by Friday. But when I called again on Monday, the investigator told me they had only summoned him for interrogation. Later, one of the officers in Kyebi called to say he had been arrested, but the inconsistencies make me doubt the whole story,” Masawudu stated.
He further alleged that the supposed arrest was part of a political scheme by the governing NDC to create the appearance of fairness while shielding their party executives from accountability.
“For me, everybody knows how tricky these NDC people are. They are confidence tricksters.”
“This so-called arrest is just a ploy to deceive Ghanaians into thinking the law applies equally. But we know the injustice of John Mahama’s government and how they manipulate the system,” Masawudu argued.
