BY Daniel Bampoe
The Eastern South Regional Police Command has begun investigations into an alleged assault on Alhaji Masawudu Osman, the Third National Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), during the Akwatia by-election held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
According to the police, Alhaji Masawudu reported that he was attacked at the Akwatia Lorry Station in the Vawaso Electoral Area following a heated altercation with supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The clash allegedly involved the NDC’s First National Vice Chairman, Chief Sofo Azorka, who has long been a controversial figure in Ghanaian politics due to his role in previous election-related skirmishes.
The Incident
Alhaji Masawudu told the police that the confrontation occurred while he was speaking to the media near the Akwatia Zongo area, where he had been deployed to monitor proceedings at the polls.
The situation reportedly escalated when his path crossed with the entourage of Chief Azorka.
Tensions quickly boiled over into physical exchanges, resulting in what Masawudu described as an “unprovoked assault.”
The Eastern South Regional Police Command confirmed in a statement signed by DSP David Fianko Okyere that the NPP executive had been issued a medical form to seek treatment at a hospital.
The completed form, once endorsed, is expected to aid further investigations into the matter.
NPP’s Reaction
The alleged attack has sparked outrage within the NPP, which has accused the NDC of orchestrating violence to intimidate its members.
In a strongly worded statement signed by NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong on September 3, the party claimed that Chief Azorka, alongside Alhaji Abdul Wahab Amadu, the NDC’s Abuakwa North Constituency Communications Officer, had not only threatened but also physically assaulted NPP leaders.
The statement further alleged that Alhaji Masawudu was beaten by Azorka’s “notorious hoodlums,” an incident the party said was captured on video and is circulating widely on social media.
Senior NPP figures, including Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye, and Majority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, were also mentioned as having been threatened.
“The violent conduct of senior officers of the ruling party undermines our democratic gains and threatens national peace,” the NPP warned, urging the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to act swiftly.
The party has vowed to file a formal complaint and has demanded the immediate arrest of the NDC officials implicated in the altercation.
Broader Political Context
The Akwatia by-election has been fiercely contested between the NPP and the NDC, reigniting long-standing political hostilities in the constituency.
The town has historically been a flashpoint during elections, with both parties trading accusations of intimidation and electoral malpractice.
Sofo Azorka, in particular, has a reputation for mobilizing grassroots support for the NDC in volatile political environments.
His name has frequently surfaced in connection with election-related disturbances, making his alleged involvement in the Akwatia incident particularly significant.
Police Assurances
Meanwhile, the police have assured the public that the matter will be thoroughly investigated.
“We remain committed to ensuring justice and maintaining peace before, during, and after elections,” DSP Fianko Okyere said.
