Ablakuma North rerun violence: Bawumia must ‘shut up’ – Sam George

Ningo-Prampram MP and Minister for Communications, Samuel Nartey George, has lashed out at NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia over his comments on the violence that disrupted the parliamentary election rerun in the Ablekuma North constituency.

In a strongly worded social media post on Friday, Sam George stated:

“Someone should tell Bawumia to shut up. What did he say about Ayawaso West Wuogon in 2019?”

His comments were in response to Dr. Bawumia’s earlier condemnation of the chaos that erupted at the St. Peter’s Society Methodist Church polling station in Odorkor, where a group of unidentified men violently disrupted voting.

The clash led to the assault of political figures, including former Fisheries Minister Mavis Hawa Koomson, and injuries to other NPP members and a journalist.

Dr. Bawumia, who is leading the NPP into the December 2024 presidential election, warned that Ghana’s democratic stability is at risk if political violence becomes normalized.

“This will be a recipe for disaster if each political party raises its own army,” he said.

He further urged President John Mahama to ensure the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice.

“I call on the President to take action to bring the perpetrators to book.”

Dr. Bawumia also insisted that the events at Ablekuma North must not be forgotten.

“We will not forget what has happened. This is not the democracy we want to see.”

However, Sam George questioned the former Vice President’s moral authority to speak against electoral violence, citing Bawumia’s silence during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence in 2019, when security operatives assaulted opposition supporters—an incident widely condemned by civil society and international observers.

The back-and-forth reflects rising political tension following Thursday’s chaos, which has drawn condemnation from civil society groups, election observers, and the general public.

Many are calling on the Electoral Commission and the Ghana Police Service to investigate and prevent a repeat of such incidents.

With the December 2024 elections fast approaching, analysts warn that political accountability and security professionalism will be critical to maintaining public confidence in Ghana’s democratic processes.