The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of intimidation, harassment and intolerance of dissenting opinions.
According to the party, its party communicators were being hounded and arrested for expressing their views on national issues, thwarting the development of the country.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday on the arrest of the party’s Sunyani East Communications Officer, the General Secretary of the NPP, Mr Justin Kodua Frimpong, said the hypocrisy of the ruling NDC government was becoming nauseating.
The Sunyani East Communications Officer of the NPP, Abubakar Yakubu, popularly known as Baba Amando, was on Tuesday remanded in prison custody by an Accra Circuit Court.
Mr Yakubu has been charged with offences including offensive conduct, false publication, and the circulation of statements likely to incite fear and panic.
Mr Kodua said several members of the government, including the sitting President, Ministers and appointees such as Sam George, Felix Ofosu Kwakye and Malik Basintale, had made far worse, reckless, and ethnically divisive statements against former President Akufo-Addo and former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the past few months, but none of them was arrested.
Mr Kodua stressed the need for the protection of free speech, and urged state institutions to uphold constitutional provisions on fundamental human rights, particularly freedom of speech and expression.
“These are serious and grave issues. Friends in the media, President Mahama must leave a desirable legacy. President Mahama is destroying our democratic credentials,” he said.
Mr Frimpong called on the media, civil society organisations and the public to remain vigilant and contribute to safeguarding democratic principles in the country.
He noted that the party had observed a pattern of arrests involving individuals who publicly expressed views on national issues and urged authorities to ensure due process in handling such matters.
“President Mahama, you are not tolerant. Why would you empower the police to be criminalising free speech,” he said.
In a related statement, Mr Henry Nana Boakye, National Organiser of the NPP, called for a review of the court’s decision to remand Mr Yakubu and appealed for adherence to due process.
“We also demand immediate review of this perverse remand order. The Chief Justice must also investigate this clear case of apparent political bias on the bench,” he said.
He said Mr Yakubu had honoured police invitations prior to his arraignment and argued that due consideration should be given to such cooperation in judicial proceedings.
Mr Boakye also called for an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the arrest and prosecution, and urged the appropriate authorities to ensure fairness and transparency in the handling of the case.
“The NDC and President Mahama have weaponised EOCO from selective arrest to midnight raids to media trials before court trial,” he said.
He further appealed to the relevant institutions to uphold the rule of law and protect civil liberties in the country.
The NPP reiterated its commitment to democratic governance and respect for the rule of law, and called on all stakeholders to work towards strengthening the country’s constitutional order.
BY AGNES OWUSU
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