Ablekuma North rerun: We won’t legitimise a flawed process – Haruna Mohammed

Accra, Ghana —
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken a hard stance on the rerun of its parliamentary primaries in the Ablekuma North constituency, with Deputy General Secretary Haruna Mohammed declaring that the party will not legitimize what he describes as a flawed and compromised process.

The rerun, ordered following internal disputes and allegations of procedural irregularities, was scheduled to restore calm within the constituency. However, according to Haruna Mohammed, the manner in which the process was handled failed to meet the NDC’s own democratic standards.

“We cannot and will not be part of a process that lacks fairness, transparency, and integrity,” Haruna told reporters. “The rerun in Ablekuma North does not reflect the values the NDC stands for.”

Background to the Controversy

The initial primary in Ablekuma North was marred by disagreements over the voters register, delegate accreditation, and allegations of manipulation in favor of a particular aspirant. Following petitions from party stakeholders, the NDC leadership called for a rerun, hoping to resolve the impasse.

But the decision has only deepened division, with a section of the party—including Haruna Mohammed—arguing that the rerun was engineered to produce a pre-determined outcome.

“This is not justice. This is a mockery of our democratic processes,” Haruna said. “We have warned the party before, and we’re doing so again—if we allow this to go unchecked, we compromise our credibility nationwide.”

Party Unity at Stake

The controversy in Ablekuma North has sparked fears of deepening factionalism within the constituency and beyond. Some grassroots members have called for unity and mediation, while others have threatened to boycott campaign activities if their grievances remain unaddressed.

Observers warn that if unresolved, the conflict could affect the NDC’s performance in Greater Accra during the 2024 general elections.

Haruna’s Call for Accountability

Haruna Mohammed urged the NDC leadership to review the process and institute reforms that would prevent future intra-party electoral controversies.

“Our democracy must begin at home. If we cannot guarantee fairness in our own primaries, how can we convince Ghanaians we’re ready to govern?” he questioned.

He further called on party elders, including the Council of Elders and Functional Executive Committee (FEC), to intervene and ensure the Ablekuma North situation is handled with integrity and transparency.

As the dust settles, the NDC leadership now faces a critical test of whether it can uphold internal democracy, or risk alienating loyal members in key constituencies like Ablekuma North.