The Member of Parliament for Assin South and Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, has strongly denied some media reports attributing threats of bloodshed in the upcoming Akwatia by-election to him.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, the MP described such claims as “false and malicious” and urged the public to disregard them.

The yet-to-be-held Akwatia by-election has been necessitated by the death of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP Ernest Yaw Kumi in early July 2025.

Concerns about electoral violence have been raised following incidents during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun on July 11, 2025, prompting Ntim Fordjour’s earlier calls for accountability to prevent a recurrence in Akwatia.

“Some malicious publications in circulation on social media have come to my attention, purportedly attributing to me, threats of bloodshed in the upcoming Akwatia by-election. I wish to state unequivocally that such headlines, captions and statements are false and are only intended to create public disaffection for me. I have not under any circumstances threatened bloodshed or violence in any election in this country. I wish to deny the said publication as same is false. I want to assure the general public that under no circumstance will I be involved in acts of violence, much less threatening the same,” the statement signed by the MP in reaction to the misleading publications said.

The MP emphasised his consistent stance against electoral violence, noting his advocacy for prosecuting perpetrators to deter future incidents.

“It is a matter of public record that I have consistently indicated my repugnance at electoral violence, bloodshed and clashes during elections. I have on many occasions urged the State to take steps to prosecute perpetrators of such offences in order to serve as deterrence and to prevent violence and bloodshed in future elections,” he added.

Ntim Fordjour called on those responsible for the misleading publications to cease, warning of their potential to harm both personal reputations and national stability.

“I therefore urge the public to disregard any such publications and treat them with the contempt they deserve. In conclusion, I urge the persons behind the said malicious publications to desist from such acts as they do not only destroy the reputation of innocent persons but also, threaten the peace and stability of our dear nation,” he concluded.

The statement by Reverend Ntim Fordjour comes on the back of his earlier comments on July 24, 2025, posted on X, where he urged action against perpetrators of violence in the Ablekuma North rerun, stating.

“Ablekuma North election violence needs to be addressed seriously to avoid bloodshed in future elections. Democracy cannot be reduced to government-sponsored violence. NDC thugs complicit are still walking free. Arrest all now and prosecute them before the Akwatia by-election,” he wrote.

However, his remarks, and a related interview where he warned of potential “bloodshed” if perpetrators were not prosecuted, were misconstrued by some as threats, prompting his clarification.

Meanwhile, the government has since announced enhanced security measures for the Akwatia by-election, following a July 19, 2025, meeting involving the Defence and Interior Committees, the Ministers for Defence and Interior, and the Inspector General of Police. The Ghana Police Service has also assured that ongoing investigations into the Ablekuma North violence are underway.

GA