Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, has condemned the government’s actions following an attempted arrest of Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament for Assin South, by operatives of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) on April 9, 2025.
Speaking in an interview, Oppong Nkrumah confirmed that NIB officials, alongside Ghana Police officers, had attempted to “pick up” Rev. Ntim Fordjour rather than search his residence, countering earlier government dismissals of the MP’s claims.
Oppong Nkrumah rejected the government spokesperson’s initial denial of the incident, which had been swiftly dismissed as false after a brief “investigation.”
“It’s not an empty allegation that he cooked from the air,” Oppong Nkrumah emphasized, defending the Minority MP against accusations of exaggeration.
He also critiqued the government’s inconsistent responses to the situation, which have only escalated tensions.
The MP called for more transparent communication, urging for dialogue to address the ongoing political confrontation and protect MPs’ right to perform their legislative duties without intimidation.
Oppong Nkrumah’s comments come on the heels of Rev. Ntim Fordjour’s own accusations that the incident was a politically motivated act of harassment.
Fordjour expressed gratitude to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who visited him after the incident, offering his support and condemning the use of state security to suppress political opposition.
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, also stood by Fordjour, emphasizing that the NPP Minority fully supports the MP’s right to oversight without undue interference.
Meanwhile, Bawumia has urged President Mahama to ensure that security services are not used to intimidate political opponents, stressing that the rights of citizens should be respected above partisan interests.
Ruth Sekyi
