The Ghana Police Service has taken into custody Oheneba Nana Asiedu, a prominent presenter at Wontumi Radio/TV, following his controversial claims about the upcoming 2024 presidential election schedule.
Asiedu, who serves as an aide to Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), the New Patriotic Party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, faces charges under Section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) for publishing false news. The arrest took place on November 23, 2024, as authorities moved to address potentially harmful election misinformation.
The controversy stems from Asiedu’s public statements suggesting that Ghana’s 2024 presidential election would be conducted on different days based on candidates’ ballot paper positions. He specifically claimed that voting would begin on December 7, 2024, for the first seven candidates, including Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who holds the first position on the ballot paper. More concerning was his assertion that voters who missed voting on the initial day would lose their right to vote in subsequent rounds.
These claims directly contradict Ghana’s established electoral process, which conducts all voting on a single day. The police intervention demonstrates the authorities’ commitment to preventing the spread of misleading electoral information that could potentially confuse voters and disrupt the democratic process.
The case is set to proceed to court, where Asiedu will face legal consequences for his actions. This incident serves as a reminder of the serious implications of spreading electoral misinformation and the authorities’ readiness to maintain the integrity of Ghana’s electoral process.
