The family of Tawfic Abdul Mumuni, a young man caught in the crossfire of a violent political clash in Maamobi nearly a year and a half ago, has broken their silence to issue a heart-wrenching appeal to President John Dramani Mahama.

Despite the initial national outrage following the October 2024 shooting, the victim remains incapacitated, with his family alleging that he has been neglected by the state while his health deteriorates.

Tawfic was one of five people seriously injured when a routine weekend campaign walk between supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) descended into a bloody confrontation involving firearms.

A life on hold

For Tawfic, the political euphoria of the 2024 election cycle ended in a permanent nightmare. Since the day he was shot, the once-active youth has struggled to walk, with medical experts indicating that only an urgent and costly surgical procedure can restore his mobility.

With the family unable to raise the tens of thousands of cedis required for the operation, Tawfic’s future remains in the balance.

His mother, Samira Mohammed, was moved to tears during a press briefing at their family home on Saturday, February 28, where she knelt to address the Flagstaff House directly.

“Mr President, I am on my knees, pleading with you to come to our aid,” she sobbed, describing the daily agony of watching her son wither away without the necessary medical care.

The ‘Neglect’ of a victim

The family’s frustration is compounded by what they describe as a lack of follow-through from government officials who initially promised support in the wake of the violence.

Misbaw Yussif, the victim's uncle, noted that while the incident remains a dark blot on the country's democratic record, the human cost has been conveniently forgotten.

“Our main concern is that our son is suffering. Since the incident, nobody has come to check on him. We are pleading with the government to come to our aid so he can get better,” Yussif stated.

The Maamobi shooting was a precursor to the heightened tensions that characterised the 2024 general elections.

While the political landscape has since shifted, Tawfic’s family argues that true reconciliation cannot happen without justice and care for the victims of political thuggery.