Member of Parliament for Bantama in the Ashanti Region, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has spiked the John Mahama administration for repeating abhorrent incidents that have bedevilled Ghana’s election processes and which civil society, including political stakeholders, have been seeking bipartisan collaboration to address, as part of the good governance diktats Ghana has committed itself to on global platforms.
“The post-election violence we have witnessed—including arson, vandalism, physical assaults, unlawful take-overs of state agencies, and attacks on security personnel, poses a grave threat to the peace and stability of our nation. These reprehensible acts, reportedly perpetrated by individuals allegedly affiliated with the governing party, seriously undermine our democratic progress and must be condemned in the strongest terms.”
Citing instances in which the incoming administration unleashed violence on the nation, targeting especially members of the exited administration, the MP referred to such incidents of violence in the Ayensuano Constituency, he mentioned reports about dissatisfied supporters of the ruling party setting the office of the Electoral Commission ablaze.
He also cited acts mayhem and arson that were inflicted on staff of some state institutions, including the Ghana National Gas Company, Bui Power Authority, National Petroleum Authority (NPA), and the Ghana Ports and Harbours
Authority.
Such institutions, among several others, were unlawfully invaded, with some public servants being forcibly removed from their offices, he said.
“Mr. Speaker, in my own constituency of Bantama, on January 8, 2025, some known operatives of the governing party, led by constituency executives, stormed public institutions, including the National Health Insurance Authority and National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), forcibly ejecting staff and locking their premises.
Still citing a litany of cases, he said just last week, a group of individuals unlawfully targeted the Metro Mass Transit yard in Bantama, demanding control over its assets, including internally generated funds.
Such actions, he reiterated, not only disrupt governance, but also threaten the livelihoods of affected staff and the local economy.
“Mr. Speaker, the instances are many, and I believe that colleague members have heard of similar instances of politically motivated disturbances after the December 7 elections, including in constituencies such as Dome Kwabenya, Ablekuma North, Okaikwei Central, Tema Central, Techiman South, Nsawam, Obuasi East, Ahafo Ano North, and Ahafo Ano South West.
He lamented that what remains uncertain is when these incidents will end to restore the safety of citizens, ensure uninterrupted business activities, and bolster investor confidence. These are most unfortunate and must not be encouraged, regardless of the background of its perpetrators.
“The recent tragic incident in Obuase, where some individuals wielding locally manufactured rifles, pump action guns, knives, cutlases, axes and matchets intruded the premises of Anglo Gold Ashanti Mines is widely believed to be associated with post-election violence. This unfortunately, led to the burning of vehicles belonging to private entities and individuals, as well as damages to other private assets,”.
Annoyingly, he noted, these exchanges with security personnel on duty led to the unfortunate demise of some individuals, with many severely injured, lamenting that it is deeply troubling that these unlawful activities continue unabated despite the President’s recent public admonishment.
Concluding, he noted that there appears to be the lack of decisive and immediate action against the perpetrators of these crimes, which creates an impression of tolerance for lawlessness, eroding public trust in our institutions and the rule of law. and we must not allow the actions of a few to tarnish our reputation as a government that has massively won an election.
