Akwatia will erupt if President Mahama fails to act on Ablekuma violence – NPP MP warns

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South, John Ntim Fordjour, has warned that Ghana risks descending into electoral violence if President John Dramani Mahama fails to take decisive action against perpetrators of violence during the Ablekuma North election rerun.

Speaking in an interview shared on social media, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP cautioned that continued government inaction could spark bloodshed in Akwatia’s upcoming by-election and other future elections if political vigilantes are not punished.

Ntim Fordjour expressed concern over what he described as a growing culture of political violence allegedly perpetrated by elements within the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“It’s not a strong signal, but if the president wants to continue his inaction in bringing the perpetrators to book, arresting them and prosecuting them, there’s going to be bloodshed in Akwatia and future elections. We don’t want bloodshed in future elections. Democracy cannot be traded for violence,” he stated.

He lamented that ordinary voters were becoming scared of participating in elections due to threats from political vigilantes.

“We don’t want a time where you put ballot boxes at polling stations and nobody will come out to vote because they fear being killed by political vigilantes.

“That is what the NDC is doing. It’s a dangerous trend, a national security threat that must be rooted out, and the president must show commitment. So far, he has demonstrated he doesn’t care,” he added.

The legislator also criticised the security agencies for what he described as a lacklustre response to the Ablekuma violence, alleging that only two people had been arrested out of more than 100 alleged hooligans involved.

“The minister has given his word that those engaged in the acts are going to be prosecuted. We heard yesterday that two people have been arrested.

“Two people? Out of how many? Over a hundred government-sponsored thugs were sent to exert mayhem, and you arrest two, and then we should clap for you? It’s shameful and disappointing,” he fumed.

According to him, failure to thoroughly investigate and prosecute the perpetrators will embolden political actors to replicate the same tactics in Akwatia and other upcoming elections.

The Assin South MP accused the NDC of using intimidation and violence to manipulate electoral outcomes during the 2024 elections.

The election, which saw the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma North, Ewurabena Aubynn, elected as the Member of Parliament-elect for the constituency, was marred by violence.

Former Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson, was assaulted along with other party members during the chaos.

The rerun, held on Friday, July 11, 2025, followed months of controversy over the initial parliamentary results declared in December 2024, after rioting at the collation centre forced the suspension of vote counting from 19 polling stations.