NPP Petitions Diplomatic Community Over Political Persecutions

Henry Nana Boakye presenting the petition to HE Imane Ouaadil

 

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has petitioned the diplomatic community in the country over what it describes as growing state-sponsored political persecution, suppression of dissent and erosion of democratic freedoms under the government of President John Dramani Mahama.

The petition, presented to members of the Diplomatic Corps in Accra and received by the Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana, Imane Ouaadil, who is Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, accused the government of weaponising state institutions against political opponents, journalists, activists and social media commentators.

In the petition signed by the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, and the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the party claimed that Ghana’s democratic credentials were under serious threat due to a “systematic pattern of intimidation, arbitrary arrests, selective prosecutions and politically motivated detentions.”

“The Ghanaian people are increasingly witnessing a deliberate and systematic weaponisation of state institutions against political opponents, journalists, social media commentators, and dissenting voices,” the petition stated.

According to the NPP, the country is gradually returning to a “culture of silence,” with critics of government increasingly facing criminal prosecution instead of democratic engagement.

The party alleged that the government was indirectly resurrecting criminal libel and state-sponsored censorship through the use of Sections 207 and 208 of the Criminal Offences Act to prosecute political speech and criticism of public officials.

The petition cited the recent arrest and prosecution of the Bono Regional Chairman of the NPP, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, as evidence of political intimidation.

According to the party, Mr. Baffoe was charged with “offensive conduct conducive to breach of peace” and “publication of false news” following comments he allegedly made concerning judicial impartiality.

The NPP argued that criticism of public officials, including judges, should not constitute a criminal offence in a constitutional democracy, and insisted that civil remedies already existed under Ghanaian law for reputational grievances.

The petition also expressed concern over the refusal of the court to grant bail to Mr. Baffoe, describing the decision as an attack on personal liberty and freedom of expression.

Beyond the Abronye case, the NPP listed several party members, activists and media personalities it claimed had faced arrests, intimidation or prosecution for expressing views critical of the government.

Among those mentioned were John Ntim Fordjour, Paul Adom-Otchere, Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, Alfred Ababio Kumi and Okatakyie Afrifa.

The party further accused state security institutions, including the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Ghana Police Service, of being used for partisan purposes through “Rambo-style arrests,” midnight raids and prolonged detentions.

It also alleged selective application of justice, claiming that opposition members were quickly prosecuted while persons associated with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) accused of similar conduct were left untouched.

The petition additionally raised concerns over judicial independence, referencing the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo and claiming there was growing public perception of executive interference in the judiciary.

The NPP appealed to the diplomatic community, development partners and international human rights organisations to closely monitor developments in the country and publicly reaffirm support for freedom of expression, judicial independence, due process and political pluralism.

The party also called for an end to these politically motivated arrests, arbitrary detentions and intimidation of opposition figures, journalists and activists.

“This petition is not merely about one political party or one individual. It is about the future of constitutional democracy in Ghana,” the statement said.

The NPP maintained that it remained committed to constitutional democracy, the rule of law and peaceful political engagement, stressing that “the culture of silence must never return to Ghana.”

By Ernest Kofi Adu

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