The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly criticized the John Mahama administration, alleging a systematic campaign of harassment and intimidation against its members through the political misuse of state institutions.
Concerns Over Political Interference
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong expressed deep concern regarding what the party views as escalating political interference in the work of security agencies and parts of the judiciary.
- “Political Weapons”: Mr. Kodua asserted that state institutions, which are constitutionally mandated to operate independently, have instead been transformed into “political weapons” used to silence critics and suppress opposition voices.
- Previous Appeals: The NPP General Secretary highlighted that the party has held numerous demonstrations and press conferences, appealing to President Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to halt the “continuous weaponisation of the state security and the judiciary against political opponents.”
- “Abuse of Power”: Kodua stated that despite these appeals, the government has been “deaf to calls for fairness,” and insisted that the country’s democracy is being “slowly poisoned by the abuse of power.”
Alleged Constitutional Violations
The NPP also raised specific constitutional concerns, pointing to what they describe as persistent violations of rights guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution.
- Article 14: Mr. Kodua specifically cited Article 14, which guarantees bail for persons arrested or detained, saying it is “increasingly concerning that the state security agencies continue to flout with impunity the Constitution of Ghana.”
Vow to Fight Injustice
Concluding his address, Mr. Kodua maintained that the NPP will not be intimidated by what it views as targeted actions against its members. He vowed that the party would “not back down” in its pursuit of justice and accountability.
“Unfortunately, all our calls are falling on deaf ears, but as a party we shall not back down on our resolve to fight this injustice,” he emphasized.
