Attacks on Journalists and destruction of ballot papers mar Ashanti Region Council of State election

Confusion sparked by the loss of one candidate in the election to the Council of State has led to ballot destruction, attack on journalists and a temporary suspension of election proceedings.

The Council of State elections in the Ashanti Region erupted into chaos and confusion when a group of unidentified thugs stormed the election center, disrupting the sorting and counting of ballots.

Our reporter revealed that the assailants forcefully entered the venue, overturning tables, destroying ballot boxes, and scattering voting materials.

This compelled Electoral Commission (EC) officials to suspend the process.

Some Journalists on-site were reportedly attacked, with some forced to delete videos and images they had captured during the turmoil.

The chaos is believed to have stemmed from the unexpected defeat of National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, who had been a favored contender. Aggrieved supporters allegedly instigated the violence, demanding a review of the results.

Security personnel at the scene struggled to manage the escalating tensions, prompting a temporary suspension of the election proceedings.

Additional law enforcement personnel have since been deployed to restore order and protect the electoral materials.

The Electoral Commission has yet to issue an official statement addressing the disruption or detailing the next steps concerning the election results.

By Benjamin Aidoo