The Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has strongly denied accusations that he incited or directed violence during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun on Friday.

Responding to claims made by the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Mr Gbande described the allegations as false and baseless, insisting that he was only present at the scene to help de-escalate tensions.

Speaking in an interview on TV3 on Saturday, July 12, he said: “The Honourable Majority Leader was not on the ground. That statement is a broad lie. It’s not true, I was not on the scene directing any violence.”

According to Mr Gbande, he only visited the polling area after being alerted to tensions by other officials. “I was invited to where the incident occurred after Samuel Awuku informed me there were issues on the ground that needed collaboration to de-escalate,” he explained.

He further revealed that he was instrumental in ensuring the safety of some victims, including former MP Hawa Koomson, who was attacked during the chaos. “It was my driver who drove Hon. Hawa Koomson to the hospital. I personally checked up on her at the Kaneshie Police Station before that,” he said.

The NDC Deputy General Secretary insisted that video evidence circulating online had been misrepresented and argued that journalists present at the scene could attest to his efforts to calm the situation, not inflame it.

Mr Gbande accused Afenyo-Markin of attempting to tarnish his reputation for political gain. “Where did Afenyo-Markin get this report from? It is quite bizarre for someone who wasn’t there to make such disingenuous statements. At no point can any violence be traced to me,” he said.

He added that he had even intervened to protect a young man wearing NPP colours who had been caught in the scuffle, saying that he spoke to both party supporters to restore calm so voting could continue.

The Ablekuma North rerun, which took place across 19 polling stations on Friday, July 11, was marred by isolated incidents of violence, with Hawa Koomson and two journalists among those assaulted. The Accra Regional Police Command has promised to arrest and prosecute all those involved.