The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Hon. Rockson-Nelson Etse Dafeamekpor, has strongly rebuked fellow legislator Hon. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, the MP for Assin South, for what he describes as baseless and dangerous allegations of government complicity in drug trafficking at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
In a scathing response during a media interaction, Hon. Dafeamekpor, who doubles as the Majority Whip, did not mince words, accusing his colleague of recklessly scandalizing the government without providing a shred of evidence.
He expressed disappointment in Rev. Fordjour, his close parliamentary colleague since 2017, for making such serious accusations without fulfilling his responsibility to provide evidence or cooperate with investigative authorities.
“Ntim knows that in pursuance of the constitutional provision that grants parliamentary immunity, it only applies to statements made on the floor. So you can say what you want on the floor and you’re covered. But outside of Parliament, you don’t have that protection.”
Hon. Rockson Nelson Etse Dafeamekpor, MP for South Dayi and Majority Whip
The controversy stems from a press conference held by Rev. Fordjour in which he alleged that the government was complicit in shielding individuals involved in drug trafficking through Ghana’s main international airport.
His claims stirred public concern, drawing direction from President John Dramani Mahama, urging four state institutions to conduct an investigation, demanding Hon Fordjour’s cooperation.
However, according to Hon. Dafeamekpor, the MP for Assin South has so far failed to honour invitations from security agencies seeking his cooperation in ongoing investigations into the matter.
Hon. Rockson Nelson Etse Dafeamekpor, MP for South Dayi and Majority Whip, further rebuked Hon. Ntim Fordjour for his continued and persistent peddling of falsehoods about the new government’s defense of suspected cocaine smuggling.
He added that Rev. Fordjour has a professional and moral obligation, particularly as a Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defense and Interior Committee, to provide factual and verified information.
National Security Concerns
The Majority Whip stressed that the current government, only three months into its administration, is taking national security matters very seriously and will not allow false claims to go unchallenged.
He disclosed that multiple security agencies have already been detailed to investigate the drug trafficking allegations, and contrary to the Assin South MP’s public remarks, he had indeed been invited to assist with the investigations.
“I can assure you that any matter that borders on the security of the state will be taken seriously. You can say that the security agencies have not invited you, but I have been told that you were invited. About three or four security agencies have been tasked with handling this matter”.
Hon. Rockson Nelson Etse Dafeamekpor, MP for South Dayi and Majority Whip
He backed his claims by referencing a statement issued by the Minister for Government Communication, which also confirmed that Rev. Fordjour had been invited for questioning. Yet, to date, he has reportedly not honoured any of those invitations.
Hon. Dafeamekpor concluded his address with a pointed biblical reminder, appealing to Rev. Fordjour’s Christian values. “He’s known as a pastor, and so let me admonish him—the Bible says we should refrain from peddling blatant falsehoods,” he remarked
His remarks serve as both a legal and moral rebuke and a strong signal that the current administration will demand accountability not just from the general public, but also from Members of Parliament who fail to discharge their duties responsibly.
The South Dayi MP insisted that if Rev. Fordjour cannot substantiate his claims, the ethical course of action would be to issue a public apology for misleading the public and unfairly tarnishing the image of the government.
As investigations into the KIA drug trafficking allegations proceed, the onus now lies on Hon. Rev. Ntim Fordjour to provide concrete evidence to back his claims or face possible disciplinary measures for undermining national security efforts with unfounded allegations.
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