The serene atmosphere at the Police Canteen Galloway in Koforidua, designated as the special voting center for the New Juaben South Constituency, briefly turned chaotic following a clash between a National Democratic Congress (NDC) executive and security personnel.
The incident was sparked by Tijani Mikano, the NDC’s New Juaben South Constituency Organizer, who resisted instructions to leave the restricted voting area. Mikano argued that he would comply only if a New Patriotic Party (NPP) official, allegedly campaigning within the perimeter, was also removed.
This standoff quickly escalated, drawing the attention of voters, security officers, and Electoral Commission (EC) officials. Eyewitnesses described the scene as tense, with heated exchanges between Mikano and the security personnel.
Mikano accused the NPP of voter manipulation, stating, “The NPP has selected their people in the queue, they were campaigning, and I noticed what they were doing. I also decided to campaign with my team but the EC objected. Since the exercise started it was peaceful until the NPP started sharing money in the queue, which is why we also started approaching the queue. If they stop, we will also stop.”
The Electoral Commission officials and senior police officers intervened swiftly, de-escalating the situation. Both the NDC and NPP representatives were subsequently removed from the voting perimeter to restore order.
Darlington Annan, the presiding officer at the polling station, clarified the situation to the media, noting that Mikano’s actions were based on a misunderstanding. “The NDC executive was misled to believe the NPP agents exceeded the perimeter,” Annan stated, emphasizing the need for calm and adherence to election regulations.
The timely resolution of the misunderstanding ensured that voting activities resumed without further disruptions, underscoring the importance of strict enforcement of electoral rules to maintain peace during the democratic process.
