The Ketu North MP, Edem Agbana, has issued a passionate call for a national reckoning on electoral violence in Ghana, urging political leaders on both sides of the aisle to move beyond blame games and work toward systemic accountability and lasting reforms.

Addressing Parliament following the chaotic scenes during the Ablekuma North by-election, Mr Agbana decried the recent violence as yet another blot on the country's democratic record, stressing that Ghana's electoral process cannot continue to be haunted by bloodshed and impunity.

“This is not just about what happened in Ablekuma North,” he said. “This is about a culture of silence and selective justice that has allowed perpetrators to walk free for far too long—regardless of which party is in power.”

A Personal Reminder of a Broken System

Drawing from his own painful experience during the 2019 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, Mr Agbana recounted being assaulted at the Legon Hall polling station by individuals dressed in national security uniforms. Despite public outrage at the time, he said no meaningful action was taken against those responsible.

“I was unarmed, peacefully observing the process. Yet I was attacked in the presence of armed forces sworn to protect all citizens. What message does this send to ordinary voters?” he asked.

Justice Delayed is Democracy Denied

Mr Agbana challenged Parliament to confront the hard truth that electoral violence in Ghana is not new, and that both past and present governments have failed to deliver justice to victims and their families.

He listed several unresolved cases, including:

·         The eight lives lost in the 2020 general elections,

·         The Techiman South shooting incident,

·         Alleged ethnic targeting in Banda,

·         And the violence that marred voter registration in Kasoa.

“These aren’t just statistics. These are human beings. These are families who are still grieving. And the nation owes them more than silence,” he said.

Moving Beyond Politics

While acknowledging calls for justice from various quarters, Mr Agbana warned against what he termed “selective outrage,” insisting that true justice requires consistency, not convenience.

“Ghana cannot afford to treat justice as a partisan slogan. If we are sincere in our desire for peace, we must be brave enough to hold our own side accountable too,” he said.

He called for the establishment of an independent, non-partisan commission to investigate both past and recent incidents of electoral violence, with the mandate to make binding recommendations and ensure prosecution where necessary.

A Plea for a Safer Future

Mr Agbana ended his submission with a firm plea to all political actors:

“We cannot continue sacrificing lives at the altar of political ambition. Let us honour our democracy with integrity, and restore the public’s trust in our institutions. Ghana deserves better—and the time to act is now.”