Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev John Ntim Fordjour, has called on government to prioritise the funding of security agencies to help curb the rising insecurity in the country.
The Assin South MP is worried about what can be seen as increasing insecurity with daylight shooting to death, of people in the Ashanti Region, Bawku, Nalerigu and other parts of the country in recent times.
There were two separate fatal shooting incidents at Asawase in the Ashanti Region recently within a week.
This has compelled the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno to lead a team of senior police officers and investigators on a fact-finding mission to the area.
The death of a 60-year-old man, identified as Mohammed Madi Suleman, remains topical in Asawase and the Ashanti after he was shot on Friday July 25.
The deceased who was returning to his vehicle from a local eatery was shot and killed by unknown gunmen on a motorbike.
This incident occurred after a local chief also died in a similar incident.
Contributing to the debate on the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review presented by the Finance Minister to Parliament, the Assin South MP called for greater alignment between government spending and the country’s most pressing security and social needs.
Rev Ntim Fordjour expressed concern over what he described as inadequate resourcing of key institutions, particularly in the security sector, despite increasing public concern about rising incidents of crime and conflict in some regions.
“We must not downplay the growing feeling of insecurity in many parts of the country. Our budgetary decisions must reflect this reality,” he said.
The Ranking Member also criticised the government’s handling of compensation and logistics for frontline security personnel.
“You cannot expect results from under-resourced police and military units. If we want peace and stability, then we must be prepared to invest accordingly,” he argued.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour further pointed to ongoing tensions in areas like Bawku as evidence that the government needed to rethink its strategy.
Beyond security, the Ranking Member on Defence and Interior Committee also questioned the government’s overall fiscal priorities, urging a shift towards social interventions that directly benefit the vulnerable.
“We must put people first. The numbers may look stable on paper, but the lived experiences of many Ghanaians tell a different story,” he pointed out.
Rev Ntim Fordjour’s remarks were met with applause from members of the Minority Caucus.
