The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government led by President John Dramani Mahama of using arrests and harassment to silence critics, warning that such actions risk taking Ghana back to the “dark days of a culture of silence.”
Addressing a press briefing in Accra, NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong condemned what he described as the arbitrary arrest and detention of several party members, including Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, Gifty Oware-Mensah, Osei Adjei, and Baba Amadu, among others.
“Under this government, if you all recall, in the early days of this administration in 2025, we witnessed rampant arrests, detentions, and harassment of members of our party,” Kodua said. “We are not calling on the media, CSOs, or the clergy to defend the NPP, but to make you all aware of what the NDC is doing.”
He said the actions undermine the Constitution, the rule of law, liberty, and the right to freedom of speech and expression. “We want to send a signal that no condition is permanent. Definitely, one day the table will turn. And we don’t want a situation where, when the table turns, the same media, CSOs, and clergy will ask an NPP government why these things are happening,” he added.
Kodua argued that the NDC, now over a year in office, resorts to “diversionary tactics” whenever serious national issues arise. He claimed the government is using the arrests to distract from ongoing public debate on LGBTQ issues in the country.
“It seems their model of governance is that when there are serious issues affecting the government, they indulge in diversionary tactics to tone down discussion. The NDC knows the LGBTQ matter is ongoing, so they want to bring something else to cover it,” he stated.
Citing Chapter Five of the 1992 Constitution on fundamental human rights, Kodua said Article 21 guarantees freedom of speech and expression. He accused President Mahama and his government of “whimsically and capriciously detaining people perceived to be fierce critics.”
“President Mahama seems to have forgotten that Ghana is operating under constitutional rule. Let it be on record that the NDC government led by President Mahama has become so intolerant that it does not welcome divergence or criticism,” Kodua said.
According to him, several people expressing views on government decisions have been arrested, detained, and sent to court without due process.
He pointed to the case of Baba Amadu, the NPP’s Eastern Regional Communications Officer, who was allegedly arrested and detained by police without being told the reason.
Kodua maintained that state security apparatus should not be used to hound critics, and issued a strong warning: “The table will turn in 2029.”
Report by Bernard K Dadzie Greater Accra Region
