Bawumia Promises Consequences for Ablekuma North When NPP Returns to Power: “The Elephant Never Forgets”

The 2024 Presidential candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has vowed that the perpetrators of violence during the Ablekuma North election rerun would be prosecuted when they return to power.

Addressing the party’s National Delegates Conference, held on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at the University of Ghana Stadium, Bawumia called on President John Dramani Mahama to ensure those who were involved in the violence are punished.

He accused the NDC government of visiting many ills on Ghanaians, including violence, thuggery, and undermining the rule of law and democracy, and urged the party to remain focused on exposing all these to the public.

“Let us focus on the attempt by the NDC to undermine our democracy and the rule of law in trying to remove the Chief Justice. Let us focus on their clear intention to go after the electoral commissioner subsequently. Let us focus on the violence and thuggery via hoodlums carried out in the recent Ablekuma election in full view of the police and cameras,” he said.

Bawumia vowed that the ‘elephant never forgets’, and if action is not taken, they would do so themselves when they return to power.

“I again call on his excellency, the president, to bring the perpetrators to book and to remind them that the elephant never forgets. No matter how long it takes, we will prosecute the perpetrators when we assume office in 2029. Insha’Allah.” he continued.

Analysis of Dr Bawumia’s vow to prosecute Ablekuma North thugs

Dr. Bawumia’s promise to prosecute those involved in thuggery in Ablekuma North would ring better if he had pushed for his government to prosecute those involved in violence during the 2020 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election and other instances of violence recorded under the Akufo-Addo administration that even led to people losing their lives.

As with most politicians, Bawumia is exhibiting selective outrage here, focusing on the recent violence when he mostly remained mute about what happened during their rule.

Violence of any form is condemnable, and politicians would be better served if they remained true to principles rather than having different values for when they are in opposition versus when they are in power.