Panic ensued at a voter registration center in the Cape Coast North constituency of the Central Region as gunshots rang out, sending people scrambling for safety.
Eyewitnesses, including Adom News’ Kofi Adjei, who was on the scene, reported that the shots allegedly came from individuals purportedly guarding the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate, Horace Ekow Ewusi.
The incident, occurring on a Thursday morning, stemmed from a dispute over the registration of individuals from Moree in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese constituency. These individuals were reportedly transported to the registration center to register for voting.
Tensions flared between NPP and National Democratic Congress (NDC) members when the former purportedly tried to block the registration of the Moree group. This disagreement escalated into a confrontation, resulting in multiple gunshots being fired.
Amidst the chaos, the phone of NDC constituency Youth Organizer, Godfred Onso Nyameye, was allegedly confiscated, further aggravating the situation. Witnesses reported that Horace Ekow Ewusi, the NPP candidate, was forcibly escorted into his car and driven away from the registration center by a group of individuals.
Despite the severity of the incident, no arrests have been made as of yet, prompting concerns about security and political tensions in the region.
While authorities are yet to issue an official statement, calls for prompt action to address the underlying issues and ensure the safety of all citizens involved in the electoral process are mounting.
As Ghana braces for upcoming elections, incidents like these highlight the imperative for a peaceful and transparent electoral process, devoid of violence and coercion.