Ghana lost its democratic credibility the day Carlos Ahenkorah chewed ballot papers in parliament – Festus Aboagye

Security Analyst, Col Festus Aboagye (retired), says Ghana lost its democratic credibility on January 7, 2021, when a Parliamentarian chewed some ballot papers in the House.

According to him, the failure to punish the offender after the unfortunate incident attested to the dent in the democratic governance practised by the country.

On January 7, 2021, the Tema West Member of Parliament (MP), Carlos Ahenkorah became the subject of public ridicule for chewing some papers he forcefully snatched during the counting of ballots in Parliament.

The ballots were cast to elect a new Speaker of Parliament but an unhappy Carlos Ahenkorah made attempts to do away with some of the uncounted ballot papers.

He, however, did not succeed as some MPs of the Minority Caucus and the marshals in the house thwarted his attempt to bolt with the papers.

The development attracted the call for security beefup where members from the Ghana Armed Forces were called into the house to maintain peace and order.

Speaking on the topic “Are Ghanaians losing faith in democracy?” Col Festus Aboagye believes the faith was long lost after the MP went unpunished.

“Look, someone who called himself a honourable Member of Parliament bolted away and chewed ballot papers in parliament in an attempt to spoil a voting process; as that a democratic practice or undemocratic practice?

“If it was indeed a democracy, that MP shouldn’t have continued staying at the Parliament,” he said on the August 16, 2024 edition of the‘Yen Man Ghana’ political show on Angel TV.

He added: “So if you take a critical look at all these happenings literally beyond going to the polls every four years, then you will understand that our democracy is faulty,” the former military officer stated.