Government not intimidating opposition members – Elikem Kotoko

Acting Deputy CEO of the Forestry Commission, Elikem Kotoko, has come to the defense of former President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, firmly rejecting claims that it employed intimidation tactics. Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on Monday, April 7, Kotoko described such allegations as baseless and misleading.

“President Mahama’s regime will be the last that one will think of as a regime that will intimidate anybody or any citizen. So anybody trying to portray any such thing is just making an attempt to either throw dust into the eyes of the Ghanaian or has nothing to say but just wants to say something,” he stated.

Kotoko’s remarks were in response to accusations from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which alleged that the current government is intimidating minority voices who have raised concerns about the unexplained presence of two foreign aircraft in Ghana — AirMed Flight N823AM and the Cavok Air Antonov An-12B.

The NPP has demanded transparency and accountability, calling for a clear explanation from the government regarding the purpose and activities of the two aircraft. In a statement released on April 6 and signed by its Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, the NPP criticized the government’s response, led by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, as defensive and lacking clarity. The statement claimed that the government’s approach has only deepened public suspicion.

Kotoko dismissed these allegations as politically motivated and aimed at misleading the public. He reaffirmed the NDC’s commitment to fairness, democracy, and open governance, emphasizing that the claims were unfounded.