Ningo-Prampram Member of Parliament and Minister for Communications, Samuel Nartey George, has fired back at New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia over his condemnation of the violence that marred the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun.
In a sharp social media post on Friday, July 11, Sam George wrote:
“Someone should tell Bawumia to shut up. What did he say about Ayawaso West Wuogon in 2019?”
The post was a direct response to Dr. Bawumia’s earlier remarks condemning the violent attacks that disrupted voting at the St. Peter’s Society Methodist Church polling station in Odorkor. The attacks, allegedly carried out by a group of unknown men, resulted in injuries to several political figures including former Fisheries Minister Mavis Hawa Koomson, NPP parliamentary candidate Nana Akua Afriyie, and a journalist.
Bawumia’s Warning on Democratic Stability
Dr. Bawumia, speaking to journalists, decried the violence and warned of its implications for Ghana’s democratic future.
“This will be a recipe for disaster if each political party raises its own army,” he cautioned.
He urged President John Mahama to act decisively and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
“We will not forget what has happened. This is not the democracy we want to see,” Bawumia said.
Sam George Hits Back
But Sam George dismissed Bawumia’s moral authority to speak on electoral violence, referencing the widely criticized Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election in 2019, during which security operatives were caught on camera assaulting opposition supporters.
“What did he say then?” Sam George asked, accusing Bawumia of selective outrage and hypocrisy.
Mounting Political Tension
The exchange reflects the rising political tension ahead of the December 2024 general elections, as the Ablekuma North rerun has become a flashpoint for electoral violence and partisan accusations.
Civil society organisations, election monitors, and ordinary citizens have all condemned the events of July 11, calling on the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Ghana Police Service to act swiftly to restore confidence in the electoral process.
Background
The Electoral Commission conducted a rerun in 19 polling stations in Ablekuma North after disputes over unauthenticated results during the December 2024 general election. The constituency has since been without a Member of Parliament due to the unresolved stalemate.
The chaos that ensued during the rerun — involving assaults, pepper spray, and widespread intimidation — has reignited debate about political accountability, police neutrality, and the threat of militia-style violence in Ghana’s electoral system.
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