Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has come to the defence of Ningo-Prampram MP Sam George over his viral “shut up” comment directed at Ghana’s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Sam George, who also serves as the Minister for Communications, issued the statement in response to Dr. Bawumia’s condemnation of violence during the recent Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun on July 11, 2025.
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In a sharply worded post on X (formerly Twitter), Sam George said:
“Someone should tell Bawumia to shut up. What did he say about Ayawaso West Wuogon in 2019?”
🔥 Background to the Controversy
The comment came after Dr. Bawumia condemned the chaos that erupted at the St. Peter’s Society Methodist Church polling station in Odorkor, where violence broke out, leading to the assault of key political figures including former Fisheries Minister Hawa Koomson, and injuries to NPP members and a journalist.
“This will be a recipe for disaster if each political party raises its own army,” Dr. Bawumia warned, urging President John Mahama to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.
🛡 Gbande Fires Back
Appearing on JoyNews and reacting to the public backlash, Mustapha Gbande described Bawumia’s criticisms as hypocritical and politically selective.
“Nobody sides with the Vice President because it is preposterous for him to make that statement,” Gbande said, accusing Bawumia of ignoring previous acts of political violence like the 2019 Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence, where uniformed men brutalized civilians.
Gbande further questioned the credibility of the Vice President, pointing to statements made by NPP National Youth Organizer Salam Mustapha, who allegedly called on youth to die for the ballot—a remark that went unchallenged by Dr. Bawumia.
⚖️ “No Need for an Apology”
Gbande dismissed calls for Sam George to apologise, arguing that the lawmaker’s comments were directed specifically at Dr. Bawumia, not the Ghanaian public.
“Why should Sam George apologise to Ghanaians? He didn’t say it to Ghanaians; he said it to Bawumia,” he stressed. “How is that offensive to Ghanaians? Have Ghanaians complained?”
The incident continues to stir debate over freedom of speech, political accountability, and the ethical boundaries of public discourse in Ghana’s democratic space.
source: GhanaWeb
