Franklin Cudjoe Criticizes Sentences in Ablekuma Violence
The sentencing of eight men for their involvement in violent disturbances during the Ablekuma North parliamentary by-election has sparked criticism from Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, who argues that the punishments may not be strong enough to deter future electoral violence in Ghana. The eight individuals—Mohammed Abubakari, Tijani Mahmudu, Prince Dzakpasu, Anas Mohammed, Mohammed Hamda, Darko Otibu Samuel, Musah Muntari, and Ali Saeed (alias Bomba)—were convicted by an Accra Circuit Court on August 29, 2025. They pleaded guilty to charges including assault after a viral video showed them attacking former Minister of State Hawa Mavis Koomson, NPP Deputy Organiser Chris Lloyd Nii Kwei, and trader Majeed Mohammed Saana during the by-election re-run at the Methodist Church Polling Station. The court sentenced each of them to pay a fine of 500 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢6,000, or serve 24 months […]