The incident, which took place on Friday, July 11, at the St. Peter’s Polling Station, resulted in chaos and injuries to several individuals, including New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart and former minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson.

Speaking on Joy News’ AM Show on Monday, July 14, Ms Muslim urged political parties to reassess their mobilisation strategies, particularly where young people are placed in harm’s way.

“We have all agreed that political parties have mobilised vigilante groups in the past. They have also used individuals to protect the ballot. Sometimes, those activities lead to violence,” she noted.

Drawing on her personal experience as a mother, she issued a heartfelt plea:
“And I, as a mother of two boys and two girls, would never encourage my son to go and put himself in a line of risk that could lead to his death. I won’t do that as a person.”

She called on political parties to dismantle structures that endanger the lives of their members.
“I think political parties ought not to organise around vehicles that would threaten the lives of their own members,” she added.

Ms Muslim’s remarks come amid heightened national concern over the resurgence of political vigilante groups and their involvement in Ghana’s electoral process.

Source: Emmanuel Tetteh

She made the comment in response to a viral video that captures the CEO of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, handing out large sums of US dollars to self-styled evangelist Patricia Oduro Koranteng, popularly known as Nana Agradaa.

Speaking on the AM Show on Joy News, Shamima Muslim confirmed that the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has summoned the acting CEO of Ghana GoldBod for questioning regarding the incident, which has attracted significant public attention.

She was quick to add, however, that she was not aware of the specifics or outcome of the meeting.

Shamima Muslim emphasized that the government is treating the matter with the utmost seriousness, regardless of its perceived scale.

“Every action, however minor or major, is taken seriously by the government—as we should,” she remarked. “One of the greatest tests of this administration will be its congruence with its stated values.”

She further noted that the government’s high standards for governance require it to be accountable to the public.

“If we set a high standard for ourselves, then it is fair that Ghanaians will want to hold us to those standards,” she explained.

“Especially after years of eroded governance practices, it’s essential that we live up to the progress people recognise in our efforts to clean up governance,” she added.

Shamima Muslim concluded by saying, “To whom much is given, much is expected—even if those expectations are ones we’ve brought upon ourselves.”

ALSO READ:

• Mahama must act or be held accountable – Former MP on Sammy Gyamfi dollar…

• Why Mahama should not punish Sammy Gyamfi – Martin Kpebu [Listen]

Her remarks followed the March 19, 2025, raid on the residence of former Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Ernest Addison by National Security operatives.

On the same day, journalist Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah was reportedly arrested and later released. Additionally, security personnel allegedly searched the home of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta on February 11, 2025.

These incidents have drawn criticism from NPP leaders, including Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who raised concerns about potential political persecution and the need to uphold democratic principles.

Speaking on Accra-based TV3 on Thursday, March 20, 2025, Shamima Muslim stated that these operations are part of ongoing investigations targeting individuals of interest.

“I’m yet to get to the office to receive a full briefing on the matter, but what I can say is that there are some investigations ongoing, and persons of interest will be invited or engaged to assist in the process,” she said.

She emphasized that as long as due process is followed, there should be no cause for concern.

“We should execute these processes with due recourse to due process, and once that is done, there should be no concerns,” she added.

READ ALSO:

• Adomako urges Energy Minister to address Kumasi dumsor with solutions
• Lands Minister launches initiative to reform small-scale mining sector

Speaking on Joy FM’s PM Express, Shamima Muslim stressed the need for Ghanaians to demand accountability from public officials, emphasizing that no administration should be allowed to misuse public funds without consequences.

“We must not give political actors any power, and that includes us, the NDC. We must not give them any power to think that at any point in time, they can take the citizens for granted, do what they want, do as they please with our collective resources, and go and enjoy whatever loot they may have illegally acquired through the instrument of their position of power,” she stated.

Shamima Muslim noted that several major corruption scandals occurred under the Akufo-Addo government, yet no significant action was taken.

She referenced the infamous moniker of President Akufo-Addo as a “clearing agent,” arguing that his administration actively dismissed corruption allegations rather than investigating them thoroughly.

“There’s a reason why His Excellency, the former president, was called a clearing agent. Why should we not take a second look at that? If the outgoing administration showed no commitment in even investigating some of these matters but rather cleared some of these cases even before investigations were to commence or be completed, then there’s a fundamental problem with governance,” she asserted.

Citing specific cases, she mentioned the controversial National Cathedral project, where $58 million was spent with little to show for it, and the Pwalugu Dam project, which reportedly saw $12 million expended without any tangible development.

“These are the main questions that require looking into,” she emphasized. “And of course, the raft of cases of politically exposed persons acquiring state assets for pittance are issues we need to ask questions about. If they need to return those assets, they should return those assets.”

She assured the public that under the incoming administration, accountability would be prioritized without unjust persecution.

“If I need to assure Ghanaians of anything, it is that under the watch of His Excellency, no one will be unjustifiably persecuted,” she said, adding that the Attorney General is expected to outline measures to address these concerns.

ALSO READ:

• Your actions in corruption fight show you’re a clearing agent – Akufo-Addo told
• I know my level; it’s definitely not a clearing agent – Mahama tells Akufo-Addo

• ‘Chief Clearing Agent’ title now belongs to Mahama – Manasseh Azure

ALSO READ:

• Mahama orders A-G to immediately probe ORAL report

• Saglemi housing project: A-G drops charges against Collins Dauda, four others

• A-G drops charges against Democracy Hub protesters

She reassured the public that the reintroduction of the tribunals is solely intended to enhance the participation of local communities in the delivery of justice, and there should be no cause for alarm or fear.

The incoming Attorney General (AG) has announced the reintroduction of tribunals within the judicial system as a means to help alleviate the heavy workload on the country’s traditional courts.

According to the constitution, the establishment of regional tribunals is designed to allow local communities to engage in the justice process, thereby reducing the burden on national courts.

However, in 2002, the then-NPP government abolished various community and circuit tribunals.

The NDC now seeks to amend this and reintroduce those tribunals.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, January 18, she criticized Afenyo-Markin for taking an overly dominant role in the proceedings and shaping the tone of the process to suit his agenda.

“It is too early to say that the Chairman has been weak or has allowed Afenyo-Markin to act like a co-chair, but observations show that Afenyo-Markin has been very deliberate and intentional in overshadowing the Chairman,” she stated.

Shamima noted that the Chairman of the Committee has faced criticism, even from within his own party, for granting Afenyo-Markin too much freedom during the vetting.

According to her, this approach risks disrupting the process. “You can see a marked difference in how the NDC facilitates a freer discourse compared to the NPP when they are in power,” she said.

Citing past examples, she compared Afenyo-Markin’s conduct to that of Joe Osei-Owusu (Joe Wise), who chaired the Appointments Committee during the NPP’s administration. She claimed Joe Wise adopted a dismissive and authoritarian tone, especially towards younger members like Alhassan Suhuyini, creating an atmosphere of palpable disdain.

Madam Muslim also criticized the NPP for failing to implement the reforms they often advocate while in opposition.

“It seems the NPP and their agents preach reforms when in opposition but abandon these ideals when they gain power,” she added.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsfile, Madam Muslim emphasised that equality is about providing equal opportunities and removing barriers, rather than women overtaking men in positions of power.

“Ghana has ratified many conventions around the issues of gender equality, but we are so consumed with names and framing that we think equality…

“There is a misconception about the meaning of equality that makes people quite sensitive to the use of it,” she expressed.

She pointed out that these misunderstandings contribute to resistance against gender equality initiatives.

She therefore clarified that equality is about ensuring everyone has the same opportunities and eliminating obstacles that hinder participation.

“If we understood that equality at its base is about equality of opportunities and removing barriers to participation, we wouldn’t think that it is women coming to lord it over men or women wanting to take over their positions,” she explained.

Her statement comes after the passage of the Affirmative Action Gender Equity bill on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.

Madam Muslim believes that the implementation of the Act after it becomes a law and its accompanying instruments will bridge the gender gap.

She believes that such legal frameworks are essential for fostering true gender equality in Ghana.

The purpose of the Act is to effectively address social, cultural, economic, and political gender imbalances in the country, stemming from historical discrimination against women and persistent patriarchal socio-cultural systems and norms.

The Act seeks to ensure gender equity in both the public and private sectors.

In an interview on Channel One TV, the media professional and gender activist cited the underrepresentation of women in politics as a significant factor in her decision to enter the field.

Reflecting on her previous career as a journalist, she expressed satisfaction with her professional conduct.

She highlighted her commitment to professional integrity, emphasizing that she had never used any media platform to promote the agenda of any political party, regardless of her personal inclinations.

“The decision to go into politics was not forced on me and perhaps from my history, my family and where I am currently, I could still be active behind the scenes. There are a lot of people who support political parties behind the scenes, but I wasn’t going to use a media platform to execute the political agenda of any political party whether that party was traditionally my preference in terms of ideology and some other considerations. I wasn’t going to do that. ”

“I am glad that I was able to do a very professional job that people today can say that yes you did execute your job professionally guided by the ethics of the profession and we wouldn’t even had known that you had any sympathies whatsoever for the NDC. I am happy about that,” Ms Muslim stated.

READ ALSO:

• Bagbin apologises to Ghanaians over controversial L.I on MPs siren use
• ‘Agyapadie’ document exposes agenda to loot Ghana – KKD
• Mustapha Gbande responds to Mahama’s four-year reset claim

According to her, Mr. Mahama is as an honest leader who acknowledges challenges and takes steps to address them.

Speaking during the launch of the NDC campaign in Tamale on Saturday, July 27, she said “he [Mahama] is a trusted human being and an honest leader who concedes when there are challenges.

In contrast, she criticized President Akufo-Addo for attributing all issues to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Ms. Muslim urged Ghanaians to vote massively for the NDC and John Mahama in the December polls.

“Today our nation is in crisis, our nation is at the cross roads because of the deep mismanagement and recklessness of the NPP under the leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo, Bawumia and Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh (Napo),” she stressed.

ALSO READ:

NPP’s Communications Director involved in an accident [Photos]

Scenes from NDC campaign launch at Tamale Jubilee Park [Video]

There is no need for Mahama to debate Bawumia – Kofi…