The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has petitioned the Supreme Court and the Presidency, accusing the ruling government of political persecution, selective justice and the misuse of state institutions.
The petition was part of the party’s nationwide protest dubbed “Democracy Under Attack”, which the NPP says is aimed at raising concerns over what it describes as threats to Ghana’s democratic values and institutions under the current administration.
Led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the party presented its concerns about what it considers breaches of the rule of law, threats to judicial independence and declining public confidence in state institutions.
Among the key issues raised by the NPP are the acquittal and discharge of former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu; the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo; and the 20-year prison sentence handed to the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The party argued that these developments raise questions about fairness, consistency and impartiality within Ghana’s justice system.
“The youth are being arrested and jailed just for speaking truth to power. There is selective justice and our democracy is under attack,” Afenyo-Markin said.
Hundreds of NPP supporters, dressed in black and red, marched through parts of Accra to demonstrate their concerns.
Party executives, Members of Parliament, former government officials and grassroots supporters took part in the protest.
At the Jubilee House, the party initially declined to hand over the petition after Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Jantuah arrived to receive the document.
The NPP described the absence of the Chief of Staff as disappointing and a sign that the concerns raised were not being treated with the seriousness they deserved.
According to them, that they expected the Chief of Staff Julius Debrah to receive the petition.
“We feel that, with great respect to you and without prejudice to your presence, to nominate only to come amount to disrespecting us as a party,” Afenyo-Markin noted.
After further engagements between the two sides, the party agreed to present the petition to Nana Yaa Jantuah, who assured the delegation that the document would be forwarded to the Presidency for consideration.
