The Ashanti North Regional Police Command has confirmed the arrest of seven suspects, including an alleged ring leader, following a disturbance that disrupted the New Patriotic Party (NPP) constituency executive elections at Wiamoase in the Ashanti North Region.
According to a police press release issued on Monday, July 13, 2026, the incident occurred on Sunday, July 12, at about 7:45 a.m. at the SDA Church polling station, where delegates had gathered to elect constituency executives for the Afigya Sekyere East Constituency.
Police said one Kwame Afrifa Mensah, 43, allegedly led a group of about 30 macho men to the polling centre during the voting process.
The statement explained that when security personnel approached the group to ascertain the purpose of their presence, they allegedly became aggressive, attacked police officers, and disrupted the election by throwing electoral materials onto the ground.
“The suspected ring leader, Kwame Afrifa Mensah, together with six others, were swiftly arrested to assist with investigations, while the remaining members of the group escaped. Efforts are underway to arrest the other suspects,” the statement said.
Preliminary police investigations indicate that Kwame Afrifa Mensah claimed some of his supporters had been sidelined in the electoral process and that he had obtained an interlocutory injunction to halt the elections.
However, the police stated that neither the Electoral Commission nor the Police received any court order or injunction directing that the election be suspended.
Following the intervention of security personnel, calm was restored at the polling station, allowing the election to continue under heightened police protection.
Voting proceeded without further incidents and ended peacefully at about 4:00 p.m., after which the Electoral Commission declared the official results.
The police further disclosed that later on the same day, Kwame Afrifa Mensah and another suspect, Osman Awuni, 44, complained of ill health while in custody.
The two were subsequently taken to the Mampong Government Hospital, where they were admitted for treatment.
According to the police, both suspects remain under police guard while receiving medical care.
The Ashanti North Regional Police Command assured the public that investigations into the incident are ongoing and that additional arrests are expected as efforts continue to apprehend the remaining suspects who fled the scene.
The command also reiterated its commitment to maintaining law and order during political activities and urged all stakeholders to resolve electoral disputes through lawful means rather than violence.
By 1960news.com
