The Majority in Parliament has strongly rejected assertions by the Minority that Ghanaians are living in a state of heightened fear due to a worsening crime situation, describing the opposition’s claims as “exaggerated and politically motivated.”
Speaking in an interview, the Member of Parliament for Sissala East, Hon. Mohammed Issah Bataglia, dismissed the Minority’s narrative as a desperate attempt to manipulate public sentiment, arguing that the nation’s security landscape has seen significant improvement during President John Dramani Mahama’s first year of his renewed mandate.
“It can be described as the joke of the century, and every well-meaning Ghanaian would attest to this. Under the previous administration, Ghanaians were subjected to untold social and economic hardships. At one point, the country was recording inflation at 54.7%, while our debt rose to 729 billion cedis”
Hon. Mohammed Issah Bataglia, Member of Parliament for Sissala East
The rebuttal follows a recent press conference where the Minority painted a gloomy picture of the country, alleging that the NDC government has failed to curb kidnappings and violent crime, which is affecting the economic fortunes of the country.
Hon. Bataglia, however, characterized these claims as lacking credibility, highlighting the relative stability the country currently enjoys. He contended that the Minority lacks the moral authority to criticize the current administration given the economic and security challenges that defined the previous NPP government.
The MP cited comparative crime statistics from the first halves of 2024 and 2025. The data indicated that between January and July 2025, Ghana recorded approximately 628 robberies and 340 murders.
While acknowledging the gravity of these figures, Hon. Bataglia pointed out that during the same period in 2024, the nation recorded roughly 1,219 robberies and over 500 murders, and argued that a year-on-year reduction in major crimes proves that the government’s security interventions are yielding results.
The Sissala East MP noted that the sense of “constant fear,” described by the opposition, was actually a hallmark of the previous administration’s tenure. He suggested that while citizens previously felt they had to sleep with “both eyes open,” they are now sleeping with “one eye open” due to a more secure environment and improved economic indicators.
Localized Security Triumphs
Hon. Bataglia highlighted specific improvements in the northern sectors of the country, particularly in Tumu and Walembele.
He recalled that in 2024, daily robberies reached unprecedented levels, citing a tragic incident where two young men were shot dead in broad daylight in Walembele, maintaining that such brazen acts of violence have been curtailed – allowing residents to carry out their daily businesses with renewed confidence.
“So, what the Minority is saying is simply a game, they are trying to find something to hold on to. But unfortunately for them, this is a very bad time to play that game. They mismanaged this country in every sphere, and I do not understand what gives them the courage to organize this press conference”
Hon. Mohammed Issah Bataglia, Member of Parliament for Sissala East
Hon. Bataglia concluded that the Minority’s focus on insecurity is a tactical distraction from their own record of mismanagement.
He expressed personal sympathy for Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei, the spokesperson for the press conference, suggesting she had been left to champion an indefensible position while her colleagues “run away,” from the reality of their past failures.
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