The Chairperson of the South African Council of Elders for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quashie, has strongly rebuked Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, the Member of Parliament for Assin South Constituency, over recent cocaine allegations. Quashie dismissed the claims as politically motivated and lacking in credible evidence.
Speaking during a panel discussion on Accra-Joy FM, Quashie challenged Rev. Fordjour to provide tangible proof of his allegations, urging him to present any credible evidence to the appropriate authorities. He accused the MP of engaging in baseless propaganda and diverting attention from more pressing issues.
“If he has proof, let him hand it over to the state,” Quashie said, dismissing the allegations as politically driven. “Otherwise, this is nothing more than diversion and propaganda,” he added. The NDC chairperson also pointed out that if the government were serious about acting on the allegations, they would have already taken action against Fordjour.
Quashie clarified that the legal processes to address the matter were already in motion and nearing completion, with due process continuing despite the Speaker of Parliament being out of town. He emphasized that the machinery of justice could not be halted by such circumstances.
He also addressed the comparison between Rev. Fordjour’s situation and that of Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Member of Parliament for North Tongu. Quashie insisted that the two cases were fundamentally different, arguing that while Ablakwa raised concerns backed by solid evidence, Fordjour had opted for unverified claims without offering any substantial proof.
Turning to the broader issue of drug-related scandals, Quashie cautioned the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against politicizing the matter. He reminded the public that drug trafficking allegations have affected members of their own party in the past, including a sitting NPP MP who was jailed for drug trafficking offenses. Quashie emphasized that this history should prevent the NPP from using such matters to score political points.
“There’s no room for equalization here,” he declared, referencing the NPP’s own involvement in previous drug-related controversies. “It was under the NPP that an MP was jailed for drug offenses—Rev. Fordjour knows that. Let’s not pretend otherwise.”
In closing, Quashie warned that politicizing issues like drug trafficking could damage Ghana’s international reputation. He stated that such actions would not harm the NDC, but would instead reflect negatively on the nation as a whole.
“If the NPP thinks this will affect the NDC, they are mistaken. It damages Ghana’s image, and the sooner they realize that, the better,” Quashie concluded.
His comments come amidst an ongoing national debate over the cocaine allegations and their potential implications for the political landscape.
