The Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG) has called for a full investigation into allegations that National Security operatives interfered in its recent national elections.

The accusations have been directed at the National Youth wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Reports suggest that National Security personnel, allegedly acting through the NDC Youth Wing’s Director of Operations, Bernard Dartey (alias Kawawa), and Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Yakubu, stormed the election venue at Ensign Global University in Kpong on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

Eyewitnesses claim the operatives were armed with AK-47 and Scorpion rifles and intimidated students while disrupting the voting process.

Their alleged objective was to secure a victory for one Jimmy Mawuse Adangbe, one of the three presidential candidates, over his opponents Baba Suleman and Favour Aikins.

Other individuals reportedly involved include Bright Baah Egyir (Director of Students Affairs), Richard Class-Peters, Sharif Mohammed Ayedakew, and Anthony Baah Danquah, who were allegedly seen armed with fully loaded pistols.

Some NDC activists, dressed in military uniforms and reportedly under Bernard Dartey’s command, were also accused of obstructing voting and intimidating students.

Video footage and witness accounts indicate that armed operatives stood by ballot boxes as students cast their votes.

Some reportedly fired warning shots, vandalized election materials, and prevented students from accessing the venue to vote.

Several institutions, including the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), and Ensign Global University, were allegedly barred from participating in the election.

Two vehicles identified at the scene were a white Nissan Hardbody pickup (AP 566-24) and a military pickup (44 GA 33).

GRASAG leadership has strongly condemned the alleged interference, calling it “unwarranted and alarming.”

According to the Association, unarmed police officers, who had been formally invited to provide security, were sidelined by the heavily armed National Security operatives.

The police have since stated that they did not request reinforcements or invite National Security personnel to the venue.

The incident has drawn widespread criticism, with some comparing it to the 2019 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence, where National Security operatives led by DSP Samuel Azugu were accused of attacking civilians.

At the time, former President John Mahama and civil society groups condemned the incident.

Now, students are questioning why similar tactics are being deployed under Mahama’s government.

“When DSP Azugu led armed men to attack civilians at Ayawaso West Wuogon, we all condemned it,” said student Richard Ansah.

“Why is this happening again under John Mahama’s leadership? We demand answers!”

Amid growing concerns, some students are demanding:

A full-scale government investigation into the security breach. Accountability for those involved in voter suppression. The annulment of the elections and the conduct of a fresh, transparent voting process.

 

With pressure mounting, stakeholders are awaiting an official response from the government and security agencies regarding the incident