By Collins Sarkodieh 
A high-stakes local political contest turned completely chaotic in the Ashanti Region over the weekend. Three men are currently in police custody after violent clashes disrupted the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) constituency executive elections at the Bantama Cultural Centre in Kumasi on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
The sudden eruption of violence forced the Electoral Commission to suspend the voting process indefinitely. The incident has sparked major security concerns within the Elephant family, especially coming at a time when the party leadership is preaching absolute peace and discipline across all voting centers.
Armed Macho Men Storm Voting Venue and Destroy Ballot Papers
The internal party elections started smoothly in the morning until unexpected chaos broke out midway through the exercise. Witnesses reported that a group of well-built men, popularly known as macho men, suddenly stormed the Bantama Cultural Centre and began attacking party officials.
The aggressive group successfully vandalized electoral materials, tearing up vital ballot papers and smashing plastic voting booths. The sudden attack triggered massive panic, causing delegates and party coordinators to run in different directions to protect their lives.
Fortunately, a standby team of heavily armed police officers deployed to the cultural center responded rapidly to prevent further destruction. The security personnel physically tackled the rioters, managing to arrest three key suspects on the spot.
One party delegate sustained a serious leg injury during the physical struggle and had to be carried away by colleagues for urgent medical attention. The three arrested suspects have been transferred to the regional police headquarters where they are currently assisting detectives with criminal investigations.
The root cause of the violence appears to be tied to an unresolved legal battle brewing within the local constituency. Reports indicate that some aggrieved party members had successfully secured a formal court injunction designed to freeze the entire voting exercise.
However, the local election committee chose to proceed with the ballot box setup regardless of the active court order. This provocative decision deeply angered opposing factions, who felt their constitutional rights were being trampled upon, leading to the deployment of thugs to disrupt the process by force.
The regional executives of the NPP have heavily condemned the lawless behavior, reminding all factions that internal competition should never become a bloody street fight. The suspension leaves the vital Bantama constituency without an official executive head as the party prepares for bigger national campaigns.
This unfortunate Bantama incident proves that political parties must learn to respect court orders to protect their own members. The general public is waiting for an official update from the Ashanti Regional Police Command regarding the specific charges to be leveled against the three detained troublemakers.
Also Read: Bawumia Speaks on NPP Constituency Elections: We are still a family Regardless of the Results