Franklin Cudjoe, President of policy think tank IMANI Africa, has criticized the sentencing of eight men convicted for their role in violent disturbances during the Ablekuma North parliamentary by-election.
Speaking in an interview on Channel One on Saturday, August 30, Mr. Cudjoe said the punishment handed down by the Accra Circuit Court was not tough enough to deter future incidents of electoral violence.
“I am not too sure and happy about the sentencing in the case of Ablekuma. I think they should have been punished a lot more. So that people are deterred from getting involved in acts of violence and electoral hooliganism,” Mr. Cudjoe stated.
The eight convicts — Mohammed Abubakari, Tijani Mahmudu, Prince Dzakpasu, Anas Mohammed, Mohammed Hamda, Darko Otibu Samuel, Musah Muntari, and Ali Saeed (alias Bomba) — were sentenced on August 29, 2025 after pleading guilty to charges including assault.
A video of their attack at the Methodist Church Polling Station went viral, leading to their arrest and prosecution. Each man was fined 500 penalty units — equivalent to GH¢6,000 — or, in default, will serve 24 months in prison.
The victims included former Minister of State Hawa Mavis Koomson, NPP Deputy Organiser Chris Lloyd Nii Kwei, and trader Majeed Mohammed Saana, who were monitoring the election.
Mr. Cudjoe stressed that the country risks emboldening political violence if such acts are met with lenient penalties.
