PETITION AGAINST THE CRIMINAL CONDUCT OF NDC NATIONAL VICE CHAIRMAN (MR AWUDU SOFO AZORKA) AND THE PARTY’S CONSTITUENCY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER FOR ABUAKWA NORTH (ABDUL WAHAB AMADU) DURING THE AKWATIA BY-ELECTION
- The New Patriotic Party (NPP) writes to formally petition your office (i.e. the Ghana police) as a law enforcement agency in charge of internal security with a complaint of criminal conduct by National Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Awudu Sofo Azorka alias Chairman Azorka and the NDC’s Constituency Communications Officer for Abuakwa North, Abdul Wahab Amadu, against officers of the NPP including Members of Parliament during the Akwatia by-election held on Tuesday, 2nd September, 2025.
BACKGROUND OF THE INCIDENT
- During the by-election, Chairman Azorka engaged in actions that threatened public safety, undermined the democratic process, and created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. These incidents are of grave concern and include but not limited to the following:
a) Threats of Violence:
In a widely circulated video from the by-election, Mr Azorka is heard saying:
“Ɔmo se Afenyo-Markin aba ha. Medɔ Nyame anka me bɛtoo no wɔ ha aa, Yɛbɛyɛ by-election wɔ ne krom”
To wit:
“they said Afenyo-Markin was here, I swear to God if I had met him here, there would have been a by-election in his constituency.”
This reckless statement unmistakably implied a threat to the life of Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Minority Leader of Parliament. In the same video, when asked whether campaign posters had truly been torn down, Mr Azorka himself admitted that upon his arrival, he was informed nothing had been removed. This admission confirms that his threatening outburst was wholly unprovoked and deliberate. Such direct threat on a Member of Parliament and public official constitutes a clear violation of the law, and must attract the appropriate legal consequences.
b) Physical Assault:
At the Akwatia Lorry Station polling station, Chairman Azorka is seen in a widely circulated video verbally abusing and shouting on top of his voice at Alhaji Osman Masawudu, the Third National Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He forcefully pushed Alhaji Masawudu and had a brush on his face particularly the nose, after which a member of Azorko’s thugs slapped him [Alhaji Osman] in the full glare of the public. This conduct was unprovoked, disorderly, and a clear act of violence that constitutes a serious breach of public order.
c) Incitement and Disruption:
Mr Azorka’s actions, including alleged threats to kill both Hon Afenyo-Markin and Alhaji Masawudu, as reported by credible sources, incited fear and risked escalating tensions in an already sensitive electoral environment. Such conduct potentially discouraged some voters from exercising their democratic rights and undermined the integrity of the by-election.
- Our complaint against the NDC’s Constituency Communications Officer for Abuakwa North, Abdul Wahab Amadu, is that just like Chairman Azorko, he also threatened the lives of some leading members of our Party while swearing by Allah. Speaking in Twi, he said:
“Annoh Dompreh, Nana B; if they joke, wallahi, they will all die. I swear God. I swear by my late father in his grave, Afenyo Markin, Annoh Dompreh, Nana B, they are the people we are looking for in this by-election. We are waiting for them. We are ready for them …”
- We have attached to this petition a pen drive containing all these recordings in support of the petition to assist the police with your investigation and subsequent actions.
- The NPP submits strongly that given the history and background of the persons involved—particularly Chairman Azorka when it comes to political thuggery in the country—having regard to his record as the founder of an NDC vigilante group, named “Azorka boys,” which was proscribed by law, such wild threats coming from him cannot be taken lightly at all.
LEGAL AND DEMOCRATIC CONCERNS
- The conduct of Mr Azorka and Mr. Amadu contravenes several provisions of Ghanaian law, including:
i) Sections 69, 74, 75, 84, 86 and 207 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) – prohibiting causing harm, threats of harm, threat of death, assault, assault and battery and offensive conduct conducive to breaches of peace respectively.
ii) The Electoral Commission’s regulations and the Political Parties Code of Conduct, which require all political actors to uphold peace and civility during elections.
- As a party committed to upholding Ghana’s democratic principles, we are deeply concerned that such actions threaten the safety of citizens, public officials, and the integrity of our electoral processes. These incidents must not be allowed to set a precedent for political violence or intimidation in Ghana.
REQUEST FOR ACTION
- It is said, and right so, that the law is the law. If indeed the law is the law and everybody is equal before the law, the NPP urges your office to, in the light of the above:
(1) Conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the actions into these matters all of which bother on commission of crime by members of the governing NDC during the Akwatia by-election.
(2) Take appropriate legal action including immediate arrest and prosecution of Chairman Azorka, ‘his boy’ who slapped the NPP National Third Vice Chairman as well as the NDC Constituency Communications Officer for Abuakwa North, Abdul Wahab Amadu and all accomplices found culpable, to serve as a deterrent to others who may seek to disrupt the peace during electoral processes.
(3) Provide a public update on the progress of the investigation to reassure Ghanaians of the commitment to upholding law and order.
- Given the gravity of these incidents, the NPP respectfully requests that this petition receives your urgent and immediate attention. Ghana’s reputation as a beacon of democracy in Africa depends on our ability to conduct elections free from intimidation and violence. Allowing such conduct to go unchecked risks normalizing political thuggery, emboldening others to act with impunity, and eroding public trust in both the Ghana Police Service and the democratic process. Prompt, transparent, and decisive action by your office will therefore not only bring justice in this matter but also serve as a powerful deterrent against future violations.
CONCLUSION
- The preservation of peace and security during elections is fundamental to Ghana’s democracy. These reckless and threatening conduct by members of the NDC including their National Vice Chairman during the Akwatia by-election represents a serious breach of public order and democratic norms. I trust that your office will treat this matter with the urgency and seriousness it demands and ensure that justice is served in accordance with the laws of Ghana. The safety of our citizens and the integrity of Ghana’s electoral process require decisive action against such reckless conduct.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
Yours in Service of God and Country,
Signed
Justin Kodua Frimpong
General Secretary
