Politics
49,966 Voters Head to the Polls in Ayawaso East By-Election Amid Tight Security
A total of 49,966 registered voters are expected to cast their ballots today in the Ayawaso East parliamentary by-election to choose a new representative in Parliament.
The poll follows the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Naser Toure Mahama, who passed away in January at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
Candidates and Ballot Positions
At the close of nominations and balloting on February 12, 2026, the National Democratic Congress candidate, Baba Jamal, secured the first position on the ballot.
Ibrahim Iddrisu, representing the Liberal Party of Ghana, drew the second slot, while Yussif Baba Ali of the New Patriotic Party placed third.
Two independent candidates, Alhaji Mohammed Umaru Sanda and David Kannor, occupy the fourth and fifth positions respectively.
The outcome of today’s vote will determine who takes over the Ayawaso East seat in Parliament.
Electoral Commission Assures Readiness
The Electoral Commission of Ghana has expressed confidence in its preparedness for the exercise.
A Director of the Commission, Sam Dottoh Kwaah, indicated that all categories of election officials had been recruited and trained. He disclosed that two Biometric Verification Devices had been deployed to each of the 113 polling stations in the constituency.
According to him, ballot papers as well as Statement of Poll and Declaration of Results forms were printed and delivered to the constituency ahead of the polls.
Heavy Security Deployment
The Ghana Police Service has announced the deployment of about 80 officers to each polling station as part of measures to ensure a peaceful and orderly process.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Asong Ayrakwa, Deputy Nima District Police Commander, assured residents that adequate personnel would be on standby to respond to any emergency.
In the lead-up to the election, the police conducted a show of force and route march through the principal streets of the constituency. The exercise was aimed at reassuring residents, deterring potential disturbances, and demonstrating the Service’s readiness to maintain law and order before, during and after the vote.
Intense Campaigns Ahead of Poll
Political parties and candidates intensified their campaigns in the final days before the by-election. Campaign vans blaring music moved through inner communities, while supporters embarked on door-to-door engagements to canvass votes.
The NDC held a final rally last Sunday to energise its base and boost voter turnout, describing the contest as crucial. Party leaders acknowledged that turnout in by-elections is often low and urged supporters to come out in large numbers.
During the rally, the party’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, announced the expulsion of Umaru Sanda Mohammed from the NDC after he chose to contest as an independent candidate. He stated that the former member would be barred from contesting any party position for several years should he seek to return.
On the other side, senior figures of the NPP, including General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua and former General Secretary John Boadu, were spotted campaigning in parts of the constituency, including a neighbourhood popularly known as Gutter.
Historical Voting Pattern
Ayawaso East has traditionally been a stronghold of the NDC in recent elections.
In the 2024 parliamentary election, the late Alhaji Mahama secured 22,139 votes, representing 70.85 percent, while the NPP candidate polled 9,110 votes, or 29.15 percent.
In 2020, he garnered 23,583 votes, equivalent to 61.18 percent, defeating the NPP’s Peter Kwame Antwi Mireku, who obtained 14,966 votes.
Similarly, in the 2016 polls, he won with 23,407 votes, representing 62.10 percent, ahead of the NPP candidate and other minor party contenders.
As voting gets underway today, attention is firmly fixed on whether the constituency will maintain its voting trend or chart a new political direction.
Politics
Abronye DC Remanded Into Custody After Court Rejects Bid to Vary Bail Conditions
The Accra High Court has ordered the remand of Bono Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, into police custody after he failed to comply with a key bail condition requiring him to surrender his passport to the court.
The decision was handed down on Thursday, June 4, 2026, by Justice Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Bassit, who ruled that the accused should remain in custody until he deposits the travel document with the court registry.
The court’s decision followed the dismissal of an application by Abronye’s legal team seeking a variation of the bail condition.
Delivering her ruling, Justice Abdul-Bassit described the accused’s failure to comply with the court’s directive as a serious disregard for judicial authority.
According to the court, Abronye had been explicitly ordered to surrender his passport upon being granted bail but failed to do so, claiming that the document was in the custody of the United Kingdom High Commission in Ghana.
“The applicant has failed to comply with the order of this court. This conduct constitutes a flagrant disrespect to the authority of the court, which this court will not condone,” the judge stated.
Abronye is currently facing trial on charges of publication of false news and offensive conduct conducive to the breach of the peace. The charges stem from comments he allegedly made about a Circuit Court judge, which prosecutors argue were false and capable of undermining public confidence in the judiciary.
During proceedings, defence counsel Daniel Martey Addo urged the court to review the bail condition, explaining that the passport had already been submitted to the UK High Commission as part of arrangements for his client’s travel.
Counsel further argued that Abronye was expected to resume academic studies in the United Kingdom on June 14 and might also require international travel for medical reasons. He therefore appealed to the court to vary the condition to accommodate those circumstances.
However, the prosecution, led by Principal State Attorney Joshua Sackey, strongly opposed the application.
Mr Sackey argued that the bail conditions imposed on May 21, 2026, were clear and mandatory, stressing that the accused was required to surrender his passport directly to the court registry and obtain permission before travelling outside the jurisdiction.
The prosecution further pointed out that records submitted by the defence indicated that the passport was handed to the UK High Commission on May 25—four days after the court had granted bail—suggesting that Abronye had possession of the passport but chose not to comply with the court’s directive.
According to the prosecution, the accused’s educational aspirations were not being impeded, as he retained the option of seeking the court’s permission to travel when necessary.
Following arguments from both sides, the court dismissed the application and ordered that Abronye be remanded until the passport is surrendered in accordance with the bail conditions.
Abronye was previously granted bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with two justified sureties. Additional conditions included reporting to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters every two weeks, surrendering all travel documents to the court, and refraining from travelling outside the jurisdiction without prior approval.
Politics
NPP Treasurer Denies Dues Diversion Claims, Warns Against Fake Payment Shortcode
The Office of the National Treasurer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), led by Dr. Charles Dwamena, has firmly dismissed allegations circulating on social media that party dues are being diverted into a private account through an unauthorized shortcode.
In a statement addressing the claims, the Office described the reports, which originated from a Facebook page known as “Wo Boooowa,” as false, malicious, and intended to discredit the party’s ongoing dues collection efforts.
The Treasurer’s Office clarified that the NPP’s official shortcode for dues payment remains unchanged and is 920270#. It stressed that the alternative shortcode 7142028#, currently being circulated online, has never been used by the party for any financial transactions.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Party’s dues collection shortcode has always been 920270#,” the statement reiterated.
Party members, supporters, and the general public have been urged to ignore the unauthorized code, which the Office described as a deliberate attempt to mislead unsuspecting individuals.
The Office further assured stakeholders of the transparency, credibility, and integrity of the party’s financial systems.
This incident underscores increasing concerns about the spread of misinformation on social media, particularly within political circles, as the NPP approaches its internal elections.

Politics
FROM VISION TO ACTION: DR. CHINA’S GRASSROOTS REVOLUTION THE NPP CAN’T AFFORD TO MISS
Dr. Charles Dwamena, popularly known as Dr. China, has distinguished himself as a visionary and grassroots-centered leader whose ideas reflect a deep understanding of the realities of party members at the base. At a time when many speak about empowering the grassroots, he has demonstrated the courage and clarity to design practical systems that directly improve their welfare.
As NPP National Treasurer, his proposal of the Group Accident Insurance Scheme remains one of the most forward-thinking policies ever introduced within the party. It was simple, sustainable, and impactful. With just GHS 1.47 deducted from the minimum annual dues of GHS 24, every member in good standing would have been covered, guaranteeing GHS 100,000 for accidental death or permanent disability, weekly income support for temporary disability, and up to GHS 10,000 in medical care. This was not merely a welfare policy; it was a strategic intervention that combined member protection with financial strengthening of the party.
What makes this initiative even more compelling is that it enjoyed 98.14% support from the grassroots. A clear indication that Dr. China’s leadership resonates with the base and responds directly to their needs. It was a rare opportunity for the party to institutionalize care, build loyalty, and create a strong emotional bond with its members.
Yet, despite its overwhelming support and obvious benefits, this policy was frustrated and never implemented. That failure represents one of the biggest missed opportunities for the NPP, a chance to move from rhetoric to reality in addressing grassroots welfare. The party had before it a ready-made solution to protect its members, motivate its base, and strengthen its internal systems, but internal bottlenecks denied it that breakthrough.
It is within this context that Dr. China’s ambition to serve as NPP General Secretary becomes both relevant and urgent. His experience as Treasurer has exposed the gaps in execution and the structural constraints that stall progress. More importantly, it has strengthened his resolve to fix them.
Dr. China is not offering promises; he is offering proven ideas waiting to be implemented. His vision is clear—to build a party where the grassroots are not only mobilized during elections but are protected, valued, and supported at all times.
In essence, what was halted at the level of Treasurer can be fully realized at the level of General Secretary. And for a party seeking renewal and reconnection with its base, Dr. China represents a practical, results-oriented leadership, one that turns vision into action and places the grassroots at the center of party progress.

DR CHINA FOR NPP GENERAL SECRETARY IS NON- NEGOTIABLE
Obiri Yeboah
Former Polling Station Organizer
054 067 3993
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