The Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency and Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has successfully secured a second term in the 2024 parliamentary elections.

Representing the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Jinapor garnered 16,222 votes, defeating his closest contender, Adam Mutawakilu of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who polled 14,425 votes.

A total of 30,713 valid votes were cast, with 356 ballots rejected.

The announcement of results in the Damongo Constituency was marred by violence, leading to the death of one person and significant property damage, including the destruction of the Electoral Commission (EC) office.

Frustrated by delays in declaring the election outcome, a group of agitated youth stormed the Damongo Municipal Collation Centre.

Amid the unrest, they set the EC office ablaze, causing extensive damage to the facility and its contents.

During the chaos, an NDC supporter, Sibannira Mukaila, was reportedly shot.

He was rushed to St. Anne’s Catholic Hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after receiving medical care.

The Ghana Police Service has since arrested 12 individuals suspected of involvement in the violence, including those linked to the arson attack on the EC office.

The National Peace Council and the West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP) have condemned the violence, urging residents of Damongo to remain calm and avoid further escalation.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that the unrest was fueled by delays in the results announcement, which heightened tensions among the youth.

To address the situation, the Savannah Regional Electoral Commission (EC) called a Regional Inter-Party Advisory Committee (RIPAC) meeting to determine a path forward regarding the election results.

Adam Mutawakilu, the NDC parliamentary candidate, has filed a petition with the Savannah Regional EC, contesting aspects of the results.

He claimed he was neither informed nor authorized by any individual or group to sign agreements on his behalf.

Authorities are continuing their investigations into the violence while appealing for calm in the constituency. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, with stakeholders emphasizing the need for peaceful resolution and respect for democratic processes.