On Friday, July 11, 2025, a troubling scene unfolded in Ablekuma North, shaking the foundations of our democratic ideals and sending a chilling message to the conscience of every patriotic Ghanaian. What should have been a peaceful democratic process deteriorated into violence, with the former Member of Parliament, Hon. Hawa Koomson, reportedly attacked during political activities related to the just-ended elections.
The incident has sparked national outrage and rightly so. The very soul of democracy is wounded when violence becomes the language of political disagreement. Yet, beyond the condemnations flooding our airwaves and social media, lies a deeper, more disturbing question: What is happening to the conscience of the Ghanaian youth?
A Generation Caught in a Cycle of Political Manipulation
I used to believe that we the Ghanaian youth—the supposed hope for a brighter tomorrow—were beginning to understand leadership, patriotism, and the essence of politics. But the recent elections and this unfortunate event have forced me to reconsider that belief.
Today, many of our youth are not driven by ideals or national vision. Instead, they are increasingly becoming tools—willing or coerced for political puppeteers. The very generation that should rise above partisan biases and lead the charge for integrity in governance now finds itself caught in the same web of manipulation, tribalism, and monetized loyalties.
As Professor P.L.O. Lumumba aptly put it, “The tragedy of Africa is not that our leaders are poor, but that our leaders lack vision, and the followers are not discerning enough to see through them.” Ghana is at risk of losing a discerning generation.
Violence Must Be Condemned, But So Should Hypocrisy
The attack on Hon. Hawa Koomson must be condemned by all. Violence is not and must never be an acceptable tool for political expression, whether the victim belongs to our party or not. But what is equally disheartening is the disturbing hypocrisy and selective outrage that followed the incident.
It was disappointing to see student leaders and young activists many of whom aspire to be future national leaders, respond to this act with partisan lenses. Some justified it because the assailants aligned with their political party. Others condemned it only because their party member was the victim. This moral inconsistency is a betrayal of the very values they claim to stand for.
Where were these same voices when similar acts of political violence occurred in the past? Silence in the face of injustice, when it does not favour one’s party is complicity.
Students Politics: A Microcosm of National Corruption
This crisis of conscience is not isolated to the streets of Ablekuma North. It mirrors a broader systemic decay found even within the walls of our tertiary institutions. The University Students Association of Ghana (USAG), which should be a breeding ground for patriotic and visionary leadership, has itself become entangled in corruption and partisan politics.
The 2023/2024 USAG administration’s term ended last, yet efforts to elect new leaders have twice failed. Why? Because the student political space once a noble platform for advocacy and development, has been hijacked by the very political forces we blame for national dysfunction. How can we expect national progress when even student elections are clouded by bribery, sabotage, and self-interest?
As Dr. Kwame Nkrumah once warned, “The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African continent.” That liberation must begin with the minds and morals of the youth.
The Future is at Risk—But Not Lost
My heart bleeds for Ghana not because we are falling, but because we seem unbothered by our descent. I fear for our future, not because challenges abound, but because too many of our youth are trading long-term vision for short-term validation.
We need a new generation of leaders not career politicians in student clothing, but genuine thinkers, visionaries, and patriots. Leadership must become less about power and more about purpose. We must begin to hold not only our politicians accountable but also ourselves and our peers.
It is not too late for Ghana. But time is running out. If the youth continue down this path of corruption, indifference, and partisanship, we will wake up in a country we no longer recognize—a country where political violence is normal, leadership is for sale, and truth is buried beneath party colours.
In Conclusion
Let this incident at Ablekuma North serve as more than a headline. Let it be a wake-up call, a turning point in our national dialogue. Let us use this moment to reflect, rebuild, and reeducate ourselves on what politics, leadership, and democracy truly mean.
As Prof. Lumumba once said, “If we do not change the way we conduct the business of politics, we are digging our own graves with golden shovels.”
Let us rise. Let us think. Let us lead—not for our parties, but for our people.
Long live Ghana.
By Isaac K. Odjidj (NKB) –Youth Development Advocate
