Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee and MP for Assin South, Rev Ntim Fordjour, has condemned the chaos at the Odorkor Methodist polling station during the ongoing Ablekuma North election rerun, calling for calm and reaffirming the importance of peace and democratic engagement.
Speaking to the media shortly after the incident, Rev Fordjour expressed deep concern over the scenes that unfolded at the polling centre.
“By voting to determine your decision, it shouldn’t degenerate into the kind of violence we have seen happening today,” he said. “We must condemn it in every way that we can find to condemn. What I’m saying is that, look, Ghana is all we have.”
He underscored the value of democratic stability and urged political stakeholders and citizens alike to safeguard the electoral process. “Democracy is all we have,” he stated. “Let us continue to, particularly the key actors in our democracy, continue to make voting day a fair, peaceful day. Because everybody will look up to it.”
He cautioned against election-day hostilities, saying: “It shouldn’t be full of rancour, full of violence, I mean, retribution, reprisal. It is going to destroy the gains we have made in our democracy. And it’s not good for the reputation we’re going to have.”
Rev Fordjour reiterated his message of unity and nonviolence. “We need to move beyond violence. We need to move beyond violence,” he emphasised.
When asked whether the absence of the military, as directed by the Defence Minister, contributed to the unrest, he deferred a direct answer but noted, “We will have a full discussion on the assessment on the security issues. But all that I’m saying is that, for now, voting must proceed. We must encourage our people to vote. Express their opinion.”
He added that the rerun should bring closure to what he described as an unresolved mandate.
“The verdict that was already known. A widow who has been robbed of her right to be fled. A real man has no peace. Nonetheless, we are on it. We are on it. We are encouraging everyone to just go peacefully to the polling station within the next year or two.”
Rev Fordjour said the government and relevant institutions would conduct a thorough review after the process concludes. “When we are done, we will have a very considered opinion on how everything will proceed. All I’m saying is that peace is what we need in this country. Violence is not what we want.”