There is a chilling realization settling over the Ghanaian political landscape: the administration that campaigned on the promise of a “national reset” and a safe haven for all has instead erected a fortress of intolerance. This week, the Member of Parliament for Assin South and Deputy Minister, Hon. Ntim Fordjour, sounded a necessary, if uncomfortable, alarm. He has explicitly called out the government to pivot its priorities—stop the petty, partisan intolerance that has paralyzed the public square and focus, for once, on the actual safety and security of the Ghanaian people.
He cited examples where persons such as Baba Amando, Abronye, Obama Pokuase and Adenta Kumi being reportedly been arrested for their comments, arguing that such actions create the impression of intolerance rather than leadership.
For those of us who have covered this administration since its transition from the opposition benches, the irony is not just painful; it is predictable. When the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was in opposition, they presented themselves as the champions of civil liberties. They railed against “intimidation” and “state-sponsored fear,” promising a governance style that would embrace dissent and prioritize the protection of every citizen, regardless of political affiliation. They claimed to be the architects of a more inclusive, safer Ghana.
Yet, as we approach the midpoint of their term, the mask has slipped. We are no longer seeing the champions of rights; we are seeing the enforcers of orthodoxy.
Hon. Ntim Fordjour’s recent critique is a necessary counter-balance to the government’s growing obsession with silencing critics. His call for a focus on safety is not merely about physical security, though that in itself is a crumbling pillar under this current administration. It is about the safety of expression—the right of citizens, the clergy, and the media to point out the glaring failures of governance without being targeted by government appointees who view accountability as a declaration of war.
The administration’s reaction to constructive criticism has been one of defensive aggression. We need only look at the recent, pathetic attempt by a government appointee to label the concerns of the clergy as “political.” This is a recurring pattern in the NDC’s governance playbook: when you cannot defend your policy failures—be it the galamsey crisis or the economic rot—you attack the messenger. You label them “enemies,” you threaten their relevance, and you cultivate an environment where dissent is equated to treason.
This intolerance is not a temporary distraction; it is the fundamental operating system of this government. Having spent fifteen years documenting the rise and fall of political fortunes, I can identify the telltale signs of a failing administration: they stop listening to the governed and start policing the thoughts of the governed.
By prioritizing the silencing of voices over the security of our citizens, this government is failing the most basic test of the social contract. Whether it is the unchecked chaos in our mining communities or the rampant insecurity in our urban centers, the government’s energy is being spent on political warfare rather than public welfare.
Hon. Ntim Fordjour is right. The government must stop looking over its shoulder at every critic and start looking at the reality on the ground. A safe Ghana is not one where the ruling party is free from criticism; it is one where the citizen is free from the fear of economic collapse, environmental destruction, and state-sanctioned intimidation. If the government continues to trade public safety for political ego, they will find that no amount of spin or suppression can hide the reality from the people. The time for intolerance is over; the time for governance has long since arrived.
