The arrest of two elegates suspected of using body cameras to film their ballots during the ongoing voting exercise has been announced by Ashanti South Regional Police Command.

It indicated that the arrest was made in the Adansi Asokwa Constituency.

In an interview with Channel One News on Saturday, January 31, the Ashanti South Regional Police Commander, DCOP Joseph Hammond Nyaaba, disclosed that the suspects are currently in police custody as investigations continue.

He stressed that such actions violate electoral rules and undermine the integrity of the voting process.

“When we got to the polling centres, we realised that some of the delegates were with body cameras on their chests to capture their ballots, and they had been arrested.

“Delegates should stop bringing cameras to the voting centres because if you are found, you will be arrested and dealt with,” he said.

He warned delegates not to carry any recording devices into the polling centres.

One person was arrested by the police for reportedly destroying a poster of a contestant in the Akwatia by-election, in the Eastern Region on September 2.

The police’s swift intervention has ensured that the incident does not cause any disruption.

More than 50,000 registered constituents in Akwatia, in the Eastern Region, casted their ballots today, Tuesday, September 2, to select a Member of Parliament (MP) to represent the Constituency in Parliament.

Today’s polls have become necessary following the sudden passing of the sitting MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi, which occurred on Monday, July 7, 2025. Ernest Yaw Kumi had only served for six months as the MP for the area.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has elected legal practitioner Bernard Bediako Baidoo to contest the election. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has also selected the Chief Executive of Owuo Mining Company, Solomon Kwame Asumadu, as its parliamentary candidate for the by-election.

However, David Ankomah, who sought to contest on the ticket of the Action People’s Party (APP) has been disqualified by the Electoral Commission (EC) over failing to submit his tax clearance certificate. In this regard, the disqualified candidate has filed a lawsuit against the Electoral Commission.

He has therefore challenged the EC at the High Court for excluding him because he failed to submit his tax clearance certificate. Ankomah argued that the Commission gave him too short a notice to produce the certificate through the Akwatia District Electoral Officer, which caused his inability to provide the required document.

Additionally, he maintains that he has completed all necessary processes needed to participate in the race. He has therefore prayed the Court to suspend the by-election until the case is determined.

In February 2025, security tensions heightened at the re-run of the Council of State election in the Ashanti Region after police arrested a supporter of one of the candidates for breaching security protocols.

The suspect, believed to be an ally of former NDC regional chairman Yaw Obimpeh, was detained after attempting to bypass barricades set up by law enforcement officers at the election venue.

The individual, along with others, reportedly ignored police directives to remain behind the restricted area.

The poll was a repeat ofprevious election disrupted following an attack on Electoral Commission (EC) officials by a group of thugs. The violent incident led to the destruction of election materials, including cast ballot papers, prompting authorities to call off the process.

In response, the police strengthened security measures to prevent a recurrence. Vehicles were barred from accessing the election venue, and six police-manned barricades were erected along roads leading to the Prempeh Assembly Hall. Additionally, the surrounding streets were closed to traffic.

Hundreds of police officers were deployed to the area, equipped with crowd control gear to maintain order as the election proceeded.

Following the disturbance and violence that erupted during the Ablekuma North by-elections, police have beefed up efforts to prevent a similar occurrence at Akwatia.

The Akwatia by-election is slated for Tuesday, September 2. The election has become a necessity following the tragic passing of the Member of Parliament for the area, Ernest Yaw Kumi, who had only served for six months.

In a series of security operations in Akwatia, the Eastern South Regional Police Command has announced the arrest of ten persons, confiscating nine firearms ahead of the upcoming by-election.

The firearms include eight pump-action shotguns and one locally manufactured single-barreled gun.

This was announced in a statement shared on their official Facebook page earlier today. They revealed that "These seizures form part of intensified efforts to prevent the unlawful possession and use of weapons during the electoral process".

The first suspects were intercepted in a vehicle being driven by one Bernard Kumi Ofosu near the St. Dominic Hospital in Akwatia.

Following a search, of the vehicle, they found a Tulpar double-barrel pump-action gun, four AAA live cartridges, and two FTB blanks.

Ofosu admitted ownership and presented a valid license. He is currently assisting with investigations while the exhibits undergo verification.