Sefwi Akontombra NDC polls disrupted by alleged ballot snatching

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) constituency election in Sefwi Akontombra, located in the Western North Region, has been marred by allegations of ballot snatching. The incident occurred during the critical counting phase of the polls, leading to a significant breakdown of order at the voting center. According to reports, the disruption began shortly after voting officially closed and officials commenced sorting the ballots to determine the winners of various constituency executive positions.

Witnesses and local reports indicate that a group of unidentified individuals, often described as "macho men," stormed the counting area as the process was underway. These individuals allegedly made off with several ballot papers, causing immediate confusion and distress among party members, candidates, and election officials present. The sudden nature of the intrusion left little room for security personnel at the scene to prevent the loss of the electoral materials as tension mounted throughout the venue.

The Sefwi Akontombra constituency has historically seen competitive internal party contests, and this latest incident adds to concerns regarding electoral security during local party organization. While the final results for the constituency executive positions were pending the completion of the count, the snatching of ballot papers has cast significant doubt on the integrity and transparency of the process in this specific area. The disruption effectively halted the certification of the local leadership contest.

Security agencies and regional NDC leadership are expected to investigate the matter to identify the perpetrators and determine the next steps for the constituency's electoral process. As of the time of reporting, it remains unclear whether the election results will be partially validated or if the entire exercise will be declared null and void. Party leadership has been urged to address the security lapses that allowed such an incident to occur during the sorting process to maintain peace in the region.