Public Must Know Truth on Drug Scandal and Adwoa Safo Matter –
Asante
A Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Ghana, Dr. Kwame
Asah-Asante, has urged the New Patriotic Party to treat both the ongoing
alleged drug trafficking scandal and the internal matter involving Adwoa Safo
with equal seriousness. According to him, the public has the right to
transparency and accountability from political leaders and should not be made
to feel that one issue is more important than the other.
His comment follows a recent statement by the NPP’s General Secretary,
Justin Kodua Frimpong, who said that the party would prioritize the drug
trafficking allegations over its planned internal hearing involving the former
Dome-Kwabenya MP. This led to a postponement of the party's scheduled meeting
with Adwoa Safo.
In an interview on Joy FM, Dr. Asah-Asante noted that although the drug
trafficking matter is of significant national interest, the controversy
surrounding Adwoa Safo cannot be overlooked. He believes the party owes the
public clarity on both issues.
He explained that political parties, especially those in government, must
handle public matters with balance and fairness. He questioned why internal
accountability should be shelved when it also affects the perception of the
party and its leadership.
The lecturer highlighted that the Adwoa Safo issue has already drawn
national attention and is part of a broader conversation on accountability in
leadership. He urged the NPP to ensure that it provides a full account of all
actions taken concerning her case to avoid public mistrust.
Dr. Asah-Asante expressed concern that deprioritizing one issue over the
other sends the wrong message. He stated that every action or inaction by the
party affects how Ghanaians perceive their commitment to fairness and proper
governance. According to him, the people expect to see decisive, open, and
responsible leadership across all levels.
While acknowledging that the alleged drug trafficking scandal is a pressing
matter that demands immediate attention, he argued that this should not prevent
the party from continuing its internal processes. He emphasized that a
well-organized party should be able to address multiple concerns
simultaneously, especially when both affect public confidence.
Dr. Asah-Asante further pointed out that transparency must be the foundation
of any action the party takes going forward. He called for openness not only in
addressing the scandal but also in ensuring that Adwoa Safo’s disciplinary process
follows due procedure.
He believes that leadership is tested in times of difficulty, and how a
party responds to challenges reflects its core values. He cautioned against
using external issues as a reason to delay or ignore internal ones.
His reaction comes after reports that Adwoa Safo had shown up at the NPP
headquarters on Monday for the expected disciplinary hearing, only to discover
the meeting had been postponed. According to her, she was not officially
informed of the change, leading to frustration on her part and from her
supporters.
The party later stated that she had been served a letter announcing the
postponement. The decision to delay the meeting, according to Mr. Kodua, was
due to the weight of the drug trafficking allegations and the need to engage
fully with government efforts to clarify the matter.
However, Dr. Asah-Asante insists that both issues are of public concern and
must be handled with full commitment. He reminded the party that every
political decision is watched closely by the public and contributes to how
people view the strength and fairness of their political institutions.
He stressed that the public is not only following the details of the alleged
scandal but is also paying attention to how political parties manage their own
affairs internally. Any inconsistency in dealing with one issue over another
could affect how seriously the public takes party processes.
The lecturer recommended that political actors, particularly those in
leadership, must always place national interest and integrity above selective
action. In his view, consistent and transparent communication builds trust,
which is essential for the health of democracy.
Dr. Asah-Asante’s remarks add to the ongoing debate over how political
institutions balance national issues with internal accountability, especially
when both are playing out in the public eye.
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