BROADCAST JOURNALIST, Kwame Afrifa Mensah popularly known as ‘Okatakyie’ and one Osman Awuni, have been hospitalized following violent clashes that nearly marred the Effigya Sekyere East Constituency New Patriotic Party (NPP) polls on Sunday.
The police has disclosed that while voting was in process, Okatakyie led about 30 muscularly built men to the SDA Church polling station in Wiamoase to disrupt the elections, claiming that there was an injunction against the elections, even though the police and EC claimed they were not served.
According to the police, the ensuing violent clashes between the macho men and police led to the arrest of Okatakyie and six other people, who are perceived to be his ‘Okatakyie’s’ supporters, a security action which eventually helped to restore law and order for the voting process to continue.
However, Okatakyie and Osman, whilst in lawful police custody, suddenly complained that they were not feeling well and needed medical attention. The police therefore rushed them to the Mampong Government hospital, where they were admitted for immediate treatment under police guard.
“On Sunday, 12th July 2026, at about 7:45am, one Kwame Afrifa Mensah, aged 43 years, led a group of about thirty (30) macho men to the SDA Church polling station. When security personnel engaged the group to ascertain the purpose of their presence, they became aggressive, attacked the police, and disrupted the electoral process by throwing electoral materials onto the ground.
“The suspected ring leader, Kwame Mensah Afrifa, together with six (6) others, were swiftly arrested to assist with investigations, while the remaining members of the group escaped. Efforts are underway to arrest the other suspects.
“Later on the same day, suspect Afrifa Mensah and another suspect, Osman Awuni, aged 44 years, complained of ill health and were taken to the Mampong Government Hospital where they were admitted for treatment. The two suspects remain under police guard while receiving treatment”, part of police statement disclosed.
Authored by Assistant Superintendent Emmanuel Agbodzi, Head of Public Affairs Unit, the Ashanti North Police Command, the statement reiterated that the police and the Electoral Commission, who supervised the polls, were not aware of Okatakyie’s claims that there was injunction against the election.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that suspect Kwame Afrifa Mensah claimed that some of his supporters had been side-lined in the electoral process and that he had obtained an interlocutory injunction to halt the elections. However, neither the Electoral Commission nor the police received any court order or injunction directing that the elections be suspended.
“Following the intervention of the police, calm was restored and voting resumed under adequate security. The election ended peacefully at about 4:00pm, after which the Electoral Commission duly declared the results”, Assistant Superintendent Agbodzi said, adding that investigations into the case were still underway.
Press1News
