Minority Petitions President, Diplomatic Corps Over Ablekuma North Violence

The Minority in Parliament has petitioned the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Maher Kheir, over alleged acts of electoral violence during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun held on Friday, July 11.

The group later proceeded to the Jubilee House, where they presented a similar petition to President John Dramani Mahama, expressing concerns over what they describe as escalating political intimidation and electoral irregularities.

These actions follow their walkout ahead of the 2025 Mid-Year Budget presentation — a protest the Minority says was meant to highlight the deepening threat to Ghana’s democratic processes.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament prior to the walkout, Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh Dompreh addressed the growing concern over election-related violence.

“Increasingly, electoral violence is rearing its ugly head in our fledgling democracy,” he said. “The recent rerun in 19 polling stations in Ablekuma North is clearly revealing.”

While reaffirming respect for the authority of the Speaker of Parliament, Annoh Dompreh explained the basis for the boycott, stressing that the violence witnessed was a direct challenge to democratic norms.

“Speaker, with respect, I will not on any day try your authority. We have lined up a number of activities to back our demands, and to the extent that these acts of violence are not addressed and are visited on us at home, we cannot be part of the mid-year budget review. And to that extent, we are exiting and cannot be part of this,” he stated.

Speaker Alban Bagbin acknowledged the importance of deliberating on electoral violence but indicated that such discussions could be scheduled for a later date.

Following that, the Minority Chief Whip confirmed the caucus would not remain for the budget presentation.