| Summary/Abstract |
On 31 January 2019, masked men wearing national security apparel allegedly stormed the residence of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Delali Kwasi Brempong and opened fired on NDC party activists gathering for the by-elections in the Ayawaso West Wuogon electoral district in Ghana’s capital, Accra. The shooting occurred not far from the La Bawaleshie polling station and spread panic among those assembled there to cast their votes. Six persons were officially confirmed injured by gunshots as the masked men were reported to have fired indiscriminately among party activists.1 Videos of the tumultuous election-day scenes went viral: masked men, armed and in uniform, bullet holes, blood-stained walls, and wounded civilians. Frustrated NDC activists and party members were filmed accusing the government of orchestrating the attack as critically injured persons were rushed to the hospital.2 Later in the day, the police assured the public that calm had been restored to the area. Voters and residents of the constituency were encouraged to remain calm and to go about their duties freely and without fear.3 But the reassuring words of the police rang empty for many Ghanaians: with a by-election in the capital turned deadly, and a general election to come only a year later, the Ghanaian electorate seemed to have all the reasons to be fearful.
|