https://ndc.org.gh/Ghana’s main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Wednesday staged a protest in Accra, accusing the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration of undermining democratic institutions, suppressing free speech and targeting political opponents.
Hundreds of party supporters, Members of Parliament and senior NPP officials, dressed in red and black, marched through the capital under the theme “Democracy Under Attack.” The demonstrators presented petitions to the Supreme Court, Parliament and the Presidency, outlining what they described as growing threats to Ghana’s constitutional democracy.
The demonstration coincided with the first anniversary of the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight people, including senior government officials.
The NPP said a series of recent developments had heightened concerns over the state of democracy and the independence of state institutions. Among the issues raised were the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, arrests involving opposition members and recent court decisions that the party believes point to selective justice.
The opposition also criticised the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu. The appellate court overturned her 10-year prison sentence after ruling that prosecutors had failed to establish their case.
According to the NPP, the ruling reflects unequal treatment within Ghana’s justice system and reinforces perceptions that the law is being applied inconsistently. The party further alleged that state security agencies were being used to intimidate opposition figures and accused the government of curtailing freedom of expression through the prosecution of social media users over allegedly offensive or false online content.
Addressing supporters during the march, party leaders called on the government to safeguard the independence of democratic institutions, uphold the rule of law and protect the constitutional rights of all citizens regardless of political affiliation. However, the government has rejected the allegations, insisting that it remains committed to democratic governance and the rule of law.
Government officials maintain that the actions of the security agencies are guided by existing laws and are intended to preserve public order and national security rather than suppress political opposition. The latest demonstration adds to a series of protests organised by the NPP in recent months over issues including the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo and the arrest of one of the party’s regional leaders.
The protest underscores the increasingly tense political atmosphere in Ghana as disagreements between the governing NDC and the opposition NPP continue to play out in the public arena, with both parties offering sharply contrasting interpretations of recent legal and political developments.
Philbert Amiba Ayuusah