Police officer who was caught on camera slapping a journalist with GH One Television, Banahene Agyekum, during the rerun election at Ablekuma North has been charged with criminal assault.

This was known in a statement by the Head of Public Affairs for the Accra Region, Superintendent Juliana Obeng, on Friday, July 11.

According to her, investigations have been launched to identify perpetrators behind violent incidents that disrupted the parliamentary re-run election in Ablekuma North, Accra.

She added that Police Medical Report Forms have been issued to victims involved in the reported assaults to support their medical expenses.

“We encourage the public to cooperate with the Police and share any credible information by contacting us on emergency numbers 18555 or 191.

"The Command has progressed to obtain statements from complainants and witnesses to aid in the ongoing investigations," the statement noted.

On Friday, July, the Electoral Commission (EC) held an election in 19 polling stations of the Ablekuma North to provide its constituents with a representative after the 2024 parliamentary elections.

However, the election, which was intended to be peaceful, turned chaotic a few hours in.

In a viral video, it is unknown what exactly transpired between the reporter and a group of police officers that led to him being slapped.

In line with internal disciplinary procedures, he was interdicted and referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) for investigation.

The Police officer's action has been condemned by all, including the mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, who witnessed the unfortunate incident.

Engaging the media after the assault, Banahene Agyekum expressed distress and pain.

“Yes, (I won’t be able to continue work today) because my right eye is shaking and I don’t know what happened to my forehead. I have to go for a medical checkup,” he stated.

In line with internal disciplinary procedures, he was interdicted and referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) for investigation.

The officer concerned has been withdrawn from the ongoing election duty at Ablekuma North.

The Police have assured the public that a thorough investigation will be conducted into the matter and further updates will be communicated.

It is unknown what exactly transpired between the reporter and a group of police officers that led to him being slapped.

The Police officer's action has been condemned by all, including the mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, who witnessed the unfortunate incident.

Engaging the media after the assault, Banahene Agyekum expressed distress and pain.

“Yes, (I won’t be able to continue work today) because my right eye is shaking and I don’t know what happened to my forehead. I have to go for a medical checkup,” he stated.

After the 2024 polls, Ablekuma North remained the only constituency in Ghana without a sitting MP, due to unresolved disagreements over the outcome of the parliamentary vote.

On December 10, 2024, three days after the national polls, the EC declared Ewurabena Aubynn of the NDC the winner of the Ablekuma North parliamentary seat, defeating the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh.

However, the EC later revoked the announcement, revealing that results from 62 of the 281 polling stations had not been included in the initial collation.

Efforts to restart the collation in January 2025 were disrupted by multiple challenges.

These included interruptions due to the submission of unverified pink sheets and a violent intrusion at the collation centre that heightened security concerns.

The Electoral Commission (EC), after extensive deliberations, in July noted that it will hold the rerun election because the 19 scanned polling station results used for the collation, though approved by agents of both political parties, were not verified by the presiding officers responsible for those polling stations.

The EC arrived at this decision after it met with the representatives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday, July 1.

Ahead of today's election, the EC called on the Ghana Police Service to provide the needed security to ensure a safe environment for the conduct of the election.