Josiah
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is set to hold its nationwide “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration today, Thursday, August 6, to protest what it describes as growing threats to Ghana’s democratic governance.
The demonstration is scheduled to begin at 6:00 a.m. at the Supreme Court, with protesters expected to march through parts of Accra before ending at the Jubilee House.
According to the NPP, the protest is intended to defend civil liberties, the rule of law and democratic accountability. The party has also mobilised supporters on social media using the hashtags #DemocracyUnderAttack, #SaveGhanaNow and #SayNoToStateCapture.
Speaking ahead of the demonstration, former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s spokesperson and NPP communications director hopeful, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, said the protest was in response to what the party considers attempts by the government to suppress dissent and weaken democratic institutions.
Mr Aboagye alleged that the arrest of opposition figures, detention of some TikTok users and journalists, what he described as the weaponisation of bail conditions, and an alleged close relationship between the Executive and the Judiciary pose serious threats to Ghana’s democratic system.
He argued that democratic governance requires those in power to tolerate criticism from political opponents and ensure that the law is applied equally.
“Let’s stop the selective justice now before it becomes a cycle. Power is like ice… Live and let live… that’s the beauty of democracy,” he added.
The planned demonstration comes amid heightened political tensions between the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the NPP.
The Mahama administration has repeatedly rejected allegations that it is targeting political opponents, maintaining that the security agencies and judiciary operate independently and that arrests and prosecutions are undertaken in accordance with the law.
