The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South and a key member of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has responded to the ongoing standoff between Rev Ntim Fordjour, the Minority spokesperson, and the government.
Speaking on JoyNews Desk, Mr. Awuah clarified that the issue at hand is not Rev. Fordjour’s actions, but the government’s reaction to his calls for transparency and answers.
He stressed that Rev Fordjour’s intention was never to accuse the government but to seek clarification on essential matters.
“Rev Ntim Fordjour is not the problem. He only demanded answers; he never accused the government,” Mr Awuah explained, defending Fordjour’s position.
He continued, stating that Rev Fordjour, speaking on behalf of the Minority, raised concerns about the government’s inconsistent responses to his legitimate questions.
Mr Awuah emphasised that the press conference held by Rev Fordjour was not meant to accuse the government but to seek clarity.
“The press conference was to seek clarity, not to accuse anyone,” he said. Despite Fordjour’s reasonable approach, the government’s responses were inconsistent, which led to increased frustration and confusion.
“Do you think it’s appropriate to put everything out in the public domain? Is that what you want us to do?” he asked, highlighting the importance of responsible management, especially when dealing with national security issues.
While Mr Awuah acknowledged that the government had initially shown some willingness to cooperate, he expressed disappointment at the subsequent dismissal of the issue by government spokespersons.
“The government showed some initial intention to cooperate, which was commendable. However, when a government spokesperson dismissed the entire issue, it raised questions about their sincerity,” he said.
Mr Awuah continued to criticise the government’s lack of cooperation and its apparent disinterest in resolving the matter.
“The very people who should be interested in this have acted in bad faith. The government has shown a clear intention not to cooperate,” he remarked, suggesting that the government’s failure to engage only exacerbated the problem.
He also explained that the Minority had hoped to address the issue through the Parliamentary Select Committee on Interior and Defence, which he described as the most appropriate, trusted, and secure forum for handling such sensitive matters.
“These matters need to be handled in a trusted and secure forum, not just aired in the public domain,” Mr Awuah added.
In defence of Rev Fordjour’s cautious approach, Mr Awuah pointed to his extensive experience in government and security matters.
“Don’t forget, Rev Fordjour has been a Minister of State before. He is a ranking member of the Interior and Defence Committee. He understands the importance of security and how to handle sensitive matters carefully,” he said.
Mr Awuah made it clear that the issue does not lie with Rev Fordjour’s actions but with the government’s failure to engage responsibly with the concerns raised.
“Rev Ntim Fordjour is just being cautious. He is acting in the best interest of national security, something the government is failing to provide,” he concluded.
