“Protect the Trader Like the Politician” – Ntim Fordjour Calls for Equal Security

John Ntim Fordjour has stirred fresh debate over public safety after insisting that ordinary traders deserve the same level of protection often reserved for politicians.

Speaking on matters of national security, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee argued that protection should not be a privilege for a few.

According to him, if a politician can travel across the country and return safely under police escort, then a market woman or trader who contributes daily to the economy should not feel exposed or abandoned.

Across Ghana, many small-scale traders wake up before dawn, transport goods across regions, and handle large sums of cash without any form of security. In recent years, cases of highway robberies and market thefts have raised concerns about how vulnerable these hardworking citizens can be.

Ntim Fordjour’s point was simple but pointed: security must serve everyone equally. A nation’s protection system, he implied, should not create two classes of safety — one for public office holders and another for ordinary citizens.

The statement has since sparked conversation both online and offline. Some Ghanaians agree strongly, saying the country’s security focus often tilts toward political figures while traders, transport operators, and small business owners face daily risks. Others argue that security deployments are based on threat assessments and the public roles politicians play.

Still, the larger question remains: should protection be seen as a right for every tax-paying citizen rather than a status symbol?

For many traders, especially those who travel long distances with goods, the message resonates. They are part of the engine that keeps Ghana moving. And like every Ghanaian, they simply want to leave home and return safely.