NewsPolice run with ballot box as NDC constituency elections turn rowdy in Odododiodioo
Counting was suspended in Accra, shots were reported in the Western North and delegates were arrested for photographing ballots on day one of the NDC's internal elections.
The National Democratic Congress began its constituency executive elections on Saturday, 24 October, across 276 constituencies. Around 15,000 aspirants are contesting over two days as the party rebuilds its local structures ahead of 2028.
In Odododiodioo in Accra, sorting and counting were suspended after violence broke out once voting ended, Citi Newsroom and Adom Online reported. Videos shared online, including footage from Jamestown TV, show a police officer running with a ballot box while a group of men chase him. GhanaWeb reported that the box was taken to a police station. At the time of writing, the police had not issued a statement, and it was not clear whether anyone was injured or when counting would resume.
Trouble beyond Accra
Odododiodioo was not the only problem spot on day one:
- Sefwi Akontombra, Western North: Adom Online reported that police fired shots after a suspected "macho man" allegedly snatched ballot papers. One person was arrested. Only one outlet has reported this so far.
- Bimbilla, Northern Region: police arrested some delegates for photographing their ballots, according to MyJoyOnline and Adom Online.
- Wa Central, Upper West: three people were picked up over ballot photos at Wa Technical Institute. 3News also reported that ballot papers without serial numbers caused a temporary suspension, including in Wa West.
Parties ban photos in the voting booth because a picture of a marked ballot can be shown to whoever paid for the vote. It is one of the main tools of vote buying in internal elections.
A constituency with a record
Odododiodioo has a history of election-season violence. In October 2020, a peace walk in Jamestown turned violent when stones and bottles were thrown. On election night in December 2020, gunshots were fired into a celebrating crowd and two people died. The Interior Minister said in November 2025 that the Attorney-General was prosecuting three people over the shooting. In January 2024, four delegates were arrested at the NDC's parliamentary primary in the constituency, also for photographing ballots.
The NDC's Deputy Director of Elections, Rashid Tanko-Computer, told contestants to use the party's internal mechanisms to settle disputes.
Voting continues on Sunday, 25 October.
The NDC is the party in government. If it can't count its own delegates' votes in Odododiodioo without a ballot box leaving under police escort, it hands its opponents an easy argument for 2028. Ghana needs every party to show it can run a clean vote before it asks the country for one.
- Citi Newsroom: NDC constituency elections and the Odododiodioo suspension (24 Oct 2026)
- Adom Online: Odododiodioo counting suspended; Sefwi Akontombra shots and arrest (24 Oct 2026)
- MyJoyOnline: Bimbilla delegates arrested over ballot photos (24 Oct 2026)
- GhanaWeb: police officer runs with ballot box (24 Oct 2026)
- 3News: Wa Central arrests and ballot papers without serial numbers (24 Oct 2026)
- Ghana News Agency: Odododiodioo election-night shooting (Dec 2020) and 2024 primary arrests
- Citi Newsroom: Interior Minister on the prosecution over the 2020 shooting (Nov 2025)
Every factual line in this story is checked against at least two independent sources, unless the text says it comes from one report.