Deputy General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Haruna Mohammed, says members of the party have a constitutional right to defend themselves during the upcoming Akwatia by-election.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Monday, August 25, Mr. Mohammed rejected claims by the Deputy Director of Elections and IT of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rashid Tanko-Computer, that individuals arrested in Akwatia over the weekend with weapons were NPP supporters.

“These are security matters. We have indicated that we have the right in the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana to defend ourselves, and in that manner, nobody is doing anything at all that is going to endanger the peace within the electoral affairs of the jurisdiction of Akwatia,” he stated.

Mr. Mohammed also stressed that some of those arrested possessed licensed firearms and questioned why they remained in custody.

“Licensing a gun and carrying it is for personal protection, and personal protection has no limitation,” he argued, urging the police to distinguish between weapons carried for personal safety and those intended for electoral violence.

He further expressed skepticism over the police’s neutrality in managing election security, citing inconsistencies in addressing past incidents of electoral violence.

• Read also: 10 arrested, 9 weapons seized in police crackdown ahead of Akwatia by-election

Meanwhile, the Eastern South Regional Police Command confirmed the arrest of 10 individuals and the seizure of nine firearms, including eight pump-action shotguns and one locally manufactured single-barreled gun, as part of intensified operations in the constituency.

Despite the arrests, Mr. Mohammed insisted the NPP remains confident of victory in the by-election.

“They can seize all the weapons in the world; that will not stop them from the defeat in Akwatia. We are very resolute and very grounded, and we will make sure that we win this seat to honour our late MP,” he declared