Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Hon. John Ntim Fordjour, has strongly criticized the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, accusing it of increasing intolerance and a reluctance to be held accountable.
Hon. Fordjour, the Member of Parliament for Assin South, was unapologetic in criticizing the administration of President John Dramani Mahama over the alleged drug trafficking incident involving an AirMed aircraft that arrived in Ghana.
“You’re gagging the security from issuing a statement on my demands because some NDC politicians will be exposed when the statement comes out. The level of intolerance in the NDC government has not been seen before.
“I am not scared of arrest, I am ready for all that. I won’t be the first to be jailed, persecuted politically, harmed, or assassinated by the NDC.”
Hon. John Ntim Fordjour
His remarks come against the backdrop of growing tension over Ghana’s security operations.
The MP’s concerns follow his demand for official clarification on two aircraft—AirMed Flight N823AM and the Cavok Air Antonov An-12B—which he claims were involved in transporting cocaine and large amounts of cash into the country.
He maintained that all he seeks is a transparent update.
Fordjour’s Claims Dismissed, Transparency Assured
Although the NDC has faced criticism for its delayed response, Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor moved to ease the tensions sparked by Fordjour’s claims.
He assured Ghanaians and Fordjour alike that the government is committed to investigating the aircraft matter thoroughly.
Dafeamekpor, who also represents South Dayi in Parliament, brushed aside Fordjour’s claims of obtaining intelligence.
“Claiming you got the information from intelligence is false. That is a public document; you request, and it will be handed, so you got no intelligence.”
Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor
He further assured that those found culpable in any wrongdoing, including the spreading of misinformation to malign the government, would be dealt with appropriately.
“We are not a government that will seize 400-500 excavators and cannot trace one. We will account for everything that comes to the state by way of confiscation and seizure and use the procedure laid down under the law to get those properties to the state.”
Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor
Despite the Majority Chief Whip’s attempt at reassurance, Fordjour’s outcry speaks to broader concerns many Ghanaians hold about the politicization of national security institutions.
Hon. Forjour’s allegation that political heavyweights are being protected while sensitive information is being suppressed only fuels an atmosphere of mistrust.
Minority Stands Firm on Security
However, Hon. Ntim Fordjour emphasized that the NPP minority will not be silenced by intimidation.
He pointed out that Ghana’s parliamentary minority has frequently stood alone in demanding accountability amid a political environment increasingly dominated by executive overreach. “If you take me out, 87 Minority MPs will carry on.”
Meanwhile, questions about the entire aircraft debacle remain. If the documents in question are truly public, as Hon. Dafeamekpor claims, then why the delay in responding? And why has the security apparatus remained silent?
In a healthy democracy, transparency and timely communication from public institutions should not require such confrontations.
The public deserves clarity and assurances that national security is not being compromised to protect political interests.
This incident is a microcosm of a broader issue: the dangerous convergence of politics and national security.
When institutions meant to protect citizens become politicized, both by the government of the day and the opposition, it erodes the public’s trust.
Accordingly, security analyst Richard Kumadoe cautioned that politics, when driven by reckless actions and rhetoric, poses a significant threat to national security.
He stressed that the irresponsible behavior of some political actors has the potential to incite unrest, disrupt democratic processes, and destabilize the country.
According to him, political maneuvering devoid of responsibility can escalate tensions and weaken the pillars of national cohesion and democratic governance.
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