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Ghana Opposition Pulls Out of By-Election Over Attack on Nominee

Ghana Opposition Pulls Out of By-Election Over Attack on Nominee

(Bloomberg) -- Ghana’s main opposition pulled out of a by-election in the capital after its candidate was attacked at his house and party officials were shot at a polling station.

The ruling New Patriotic Party is defending the constituency in the northeast of Accra in Thursday’s vote after its lawmaker died last year. The NPP and opposition National Democratic Congress dominate politics in Ghana where there has been a change in power every eight years since 1992.

“At least six of our party people have been critically injured without provocation,” Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, chairman of the NDC, said in a broadcast on Joy News television. “We can no longer guarantee the security of our people and our polling agents.”

A spokesman for Ghana Police Service said it is investigating a shooting incident in the area, without giving further details.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ekow Dontoh in Accra at edontoh@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Andre Janse van Vuuren at ajansevanvuu@bloomberg.net, Rene Vollgraaff

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