WHO WINS THE ABLEKUMA NORTH SEAT?

By Joylinda Laryea / July 10, 2025

On July 11, 2025, voters in Ablekuma North Constituency will once again head to the polls to determine the rightful Member of Parliament in what has become one of the most contentious electoral reruns in Ghana’s Fourth Republic. The rerun comes nearly a year after the disputed 2024 general elections, which ended in controversy, court petitions, and a deepening political divide in one of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) traditional strongholds.

Background: A Seat Divided by Dispute

Ablekuma North, located in the Greater Accra Region, has historically been a fortress for the NPP. However, the tides began to shift in the 2024 elections when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) mounted an unusually strong challenge, led by political newcomer Ewurabena Aubynn. The Electoral Commission (EC) initially withheld the final declaration due to conflicting results from polling centers and missing pink sheets. Both the NPP’s Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie and the NDC’s Ewurabena claimed victory, citing parallel tabulations.

After months of legal wrangling, media debates, and civil tension, the EC under pressure from civil society and following a court ruling declared the seat vacant and called for a rerun. The NPP, who considered the move a betrayal and an injustice, protested heavily. Nonetheless, the EC remained resolute, scheduling the decisive rerun for July 11, 2025.

The Contenders: Women of Grit and Conviction

1. Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie – NPP

A seasoned politician and former Member of Parliament, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie is no stranger to the Ablekuma North terrain. She served in Parliament from 2017 to 2021 and was once a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. A firm loyalist of the NPP, she is known for her fierce grassroots mobilization and loyalty to party ideals.

After losing her seat in the 2020 elections to party internal shifts, she was re-nominated in 2024 in an attempt to reclaim the constituency for the NPP. Her campaign focuses heavily on continuity, infrastructural projects initiated during her term, and her track record in championing community development and women’s empowerment.

Yet, critics argue that her return signifies a recycling of old political faces, and some within her own party have accused her of failing to deliver the decisive blow during the 2024 contest, hence the chaotic aftermath.

2. Ewurabena Aubynn – NDC

A fresh and dynamic force in Ghanaian politics, Ewurabena Aubynn is widely seen as the new face of the NDC in urban constituencies. A policy analyst and gender advocate by training, she brings a technocratic edge to her political rhetoric. Her campaign has been centered on social equity, youth empowerment, and urban renewal, especially targeting the underserved communities within Ablekuma North.

In 2024, her performance stunned political observers, nearly toppling the NPP in their own backyard. She has built a strong following among first-time voters, the youth, and floating voters, portraying herself as a credible alternative to the status quo.

Her critics, mostly within conservative circles, claim she lacks the political maturity to handle a volatile constituency like Ablekuma North. But her supporters argue that her composure during the post-election dispute has demonstrated her leadership potential.

The Stakes: More Than Just a Seat

This rerun is more than just about who represents Ablekuma North in Parliament. It is a litmus test for the Electoral Commission’s credibility, a referendum on the NPP’s hold on urban constituencies, and a symbolic battle between old politics and new energy.

Both parties have thrown everything into the campaign—door-to-door canvassing, rallies, influential endorsements, and strategic use of media. Security agencies are also on high alert, given the tensions that have characterized the build-up to the poll.

The People Decide

As voters prepare to cast their ballots tomorrow, the question remains: Will Ablekuma North stick with the familiar or embrace change? Will the NPP's traditional machinery prevail, or will the NDC's youthful tide tip the balance?

One thing is certain the outcome of this election will echo far beyond the borders of Ablekuma North. It will shape political strategies going into the next general elections and could even influence leadership contests within the major parties.

In a democracy, it is the people’s will that must ultimately triumph. May peace prevail, and may the true choice of the people emerge victorious.