The Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, Hon. Michael Okyere Baafi came out saying boldly that he would resign from his seat in the House, should the NDC win the Akwatia by-election.
On September 2, 2025 there was by-election in Akwatia to get an MP to replace the late Hon Ernest Kumi (NPP) and it was between NDC’s Bernard Bediako and NPP’s Solomon Asumadu.
The former won with over 54% of valid votes caste and this led some people to call upon Hon. Baafi to honourably resign for Parliament as he promised to do. Ghanaians are with short memories. Politicians in this day and age can make outrageous statements and pledges, which they always fail to honour when the time comes.
There are two such cases that I will comment on, here.In the year 2020, the Electoral Commission (EC) decided to compile a new voters’ register, which the NDC did not find necessary and so spoke seriously against it.
Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo, then NDC’s Bono Regional Youth Organiser, came out to dare the EC to compile the voters’ register and swore before God and man that he would submit himself for castration if the Commission could be able to do so.
With his two somethings, very intact and safely stored in tight briefs, Tsekpo was ahead of the first group of people who went to register when registration was opened at his polling station. In the end, the EC successfully compiled the new register, nationwide.
But instead of Thomas Tsekpo honouring his pledge, he quietly shied away with his two somethings very well protected to this day. And as MP of Hohoe, he seems to have no intention of becoming a eunuch.
This is political talk and to date, five years on, Hon. Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo has not had the courage to humbly apologise to Ghanaians for his disrespectful loose talk.The other example which is of high-profile, is about Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa. When in opposition, he will harshly descend on then President Nana Akufo Addo whenever the First Gentleman sat in a private jet.
Hon. Ablakwa could tell us how much of our taxpayers’ money was wasted on those official trips. One day, steaming in anger over how Nana Addo was recklessly wasting public funds, he took an oath before the Throne of God that when NDC comes to power and H.E. John Mahama dared to step into a private jet, he, Okudzeto Ablakwa, would resign as minister.
On December 7, 2024 the NPP was sent packing. And NDC’s H.E. John Mahama became president and Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa became minister of Foreign Affairs. Soon, the president had to travel abroad and he took a private jet.
Ghanaians thought that the principled Hon Ablakwa was going to honour the oath he made before God and man and humbly resign his position as minister.
When this was not coming, some Ghanaians started reminding him but to this day, neither has he shown any interest in tendering in his resignation nor have he had the courage to apologise for his loose and reckless talk and explain to Ghanaians, why he made that statement.In the case of Hon. Michael Okyere Baafi, he boldly come out to apologise for the reckless statement he made with these words: “I apologize to Ghanaians for my resignation comment; I went too far.”
He went on to explain that he was overtaken by euphoria following the massive show of allegiance to the NPP by the people of Akwatia, when the NPP went to campaign and so he made that statement.
He went on to express his intention not to resign his seat.Notwithstanding, some wolves descended on him. Dr. Ishmael Norman wanted to see the MP resign and he hoped there will be a way his constituents could have a vote of no confidence in him, or otherwise his party, the NPP, should kick him out.
Rashid Tanko Computer, the National Elections Director of the NDC, has said that his party will not accept Hon. Baafi’s apology and he must resign because the issue is about accountability and trust in public life.
And if the MP does not resign, Ghanaians will not take politicians seriously. He added that the NDC is going to petition the Speaker of Parliament over the issue.The NDC members who are mounting pressure on Hon Baafi (MP) of New Juaben South, are not being principled.
Yes, Hon Baafi made a loose talk and people in that category must be careful what they say; but why should Dr. Norman and Tanko Computer, pretend that no one in the NDC has publicly made such loose statements and failed to honour their pledges and remained silent without any apology to Ghanaians?
Why have they not mounted pressure on Hon. Tsekpo to submit himself for surgery to be castrated? Why have they not put pressure on Hon. Okudjeto Ablakwa to resign from office, since the president flew in private jets?
Why should the NDC believe it is okay when their own break promises, but others must be held at their throats to honour theirs? Hon. Michael Okyere Baafi should be left alone, for his NPP has gone ahead to accept his apology.
This should however be a lesson to all politicians, to be mindful of how they talk in public.
Hon. Daniel Dugan
