The Dean of Business Administration and Communication Arts at the Academic City University College, Prof. Enoch Opoku Antwi, has stated that Ghana hasn’t learned much despite practicing democracy for over three decades.
He argues that the violence that has characterised elections, particularly by-elections and election reruns, over the years, is evidence that the country hasn’t made significant progress in its governance system.
Speaking on TV3’s Election Command Centre on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, during the coverage of the Akwatia by-election, he stated that the heavy security presence in the constituency highlights the nation’s failure to progress in that regard.
“Have we learned something? It seems we haven’t learned anything,” he emphasized.
According to him, “if we had learn, we wouldn’t have had 5,000 people (police) at Akwatia. 52,000 (registered voters) and then you have 5,000 police officers for just one by-election”, he quizzed, adding that “the results is not going to do anything in Parliament.”
In his explanation, he stated that the “NDC already has a two-thirds majority, so it’s not going to change any dynamics in Parliament.” He believes the election should go beyond merely finding a replacement for the deceased MP and instead focus on the candidate’s “competencies” and other key factors.
Referencing earlier by-elections held in Atiwa and other constituencies, Prof. Antwi noted that there have always been pockets of violence, a phenomenon he said is absent in other advanced democracies worldwide.
“Allow individuals to go and stand in the line quietly and vote. We don’t even need the police services. I’ve watched elections in Europe, North America, there is no police officer because your wife can be an NDC and the man can be an NPP and so what? It’s their choice so allow that to happen.”
He stated that a nation that builds its democracy in the manner of Ghana’s is bound to fail. “We don’t need heavy police presence. That’s why I’m saying we’re not learning, and if we build democracy like this, we’re heading into a ditch.”
He condemned the confrontation between the Vice Chairman of the NDC, Sofo Azorka, and the Third National Vice Chairman of the NPP, Osman Masawudu, saying, “if you have older people who are supposed to set examples and are fighting physically in public, what will kids do?”
Meanwhile, IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno stated that the heavy presence of police officers in the constituency is to ensure peace.
