The Minority in Parliament asserts that Ghana’s safety landscape has worsened considerably during the first year of President John Dramani Mahama’s second term. They caution that formal state functions are insufficient to hide what they call “growing fear and instability across the country.”
During a media briefing on Thursday, January 8, Patricia Appiagyei, the Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Asokwa charged the administration with failing to uphold its core obligation to protect the public and their assets.
“While this government burns millions of cedis on gold plaques and abandoned farms, Ghanaians sleep with one eye open,” Appiagyei remarked, noting that the nation’s previous stability is being replaced by apprehension. She further emphasized, “One year into President Mahama’s renewed mandate, our country is gripped by insecurity that cannot be brushed aside with ceremonies.”
To support these claims, the MP referenced data from the Interior Minister showing that by July 2025, Ghana had seen roughly 628 armed robberies and 340 murders linked to illegal weapons in only a six-month window. She argued that citizens have lost their sense of safety within their neighborhoods, citing partisan law enforcement and the sidelining of security agencies. “This is not merely a matter of resources; it is a matter of priority,” she insisted.
The Minority also drew attention to the return of ethnic and chieftaincy violence. Appiagyei pointed out that since January 7, 2025, conflicts ranging from Bawku to Sampa have resulted in numerous fatalities and the displacement of thousands, particularly in the Upper East and Savannah regions. Specifically, land and traditional leadership feuds have caused at least 31 deaths and forced approximately 48,000 people from their homes.
Criticizing the government’s reaction, she stated, “A government that presides over such pervasive fear without a credible national strategy for prevention, early warning and rapid response has failed a basic duty of protection.” Additionally, the opposition highlighted a worrying trend in abductions, noting that more young adults are being reported missing and children are being snatched while heading to school.