Former Railway Minister and Former Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan, Joe Ghartey, has weighed in on Ghana’s political climate, strongly defending the country’s democracy amidst rising political tensions.
Speaking on Focus on ABC with Joshua N.K. Ayira on Thursday, February 6, Ghartey remarked, “I have lived under military rule, and I will say what we have now is ten times better.”
He urged Ghanaians to safeguard democracy, warning against actions that could derail the progress made over the years.
Ghartey condemned the increasing political disorder in Parliament, stating, “The chaos is regrettable; Parliament is not a boxing ring.”
His comments come as Ghana’s legislative house continues to witness heated confrontations, drawing criticism from the public.
While assessing the performance of the 9th Parliament against the revised standing orders, Ghartey urged MPs to exercise restraint in their public statements, cautioning, “MPs must be circumspect with their utterances.”
On the performance of Deputy Majority Leader Afenyo Markin, Ghartey had words of praise: “I think he is doing well. He is tough, and I wish him well.”
When asked whether he has intentions of running for president, Ghartey left the door open with a cryptic response: “When the horn blows, then we will see the passengers who will climb the train.”
Ghartey previously attempted to secure the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer position for the 2016 elections but lost to Nana Akufo-Addo, who went on to win and serve two terms as president.
His latest remarks have sparked speculation about whether he will make another attempt in 2028.
ABOUT
Joe Ghartey (born 15 June 1961, in Accra) is a Ghanaian lawyer, politician and member of the New Patriotic Party. He is a former Attorney-General of Ghana (2006–2009), Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament (2013–2017) and Railways Development Minister (2017–2021).
