President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has criticised the New Patriotic Party’s planned “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration, saying the party cannot credibly defend democratic principles without first acknowledging what he described as its most serious failures in government.
The NPP is expected to hold the nationwide protest on Thursday, August 6. Organisers say the demonstration will highlight alleged political persecution, selective justice and other threats to democratic governance under the current administration.
But Mr Cudjoe questioned the party’s decision to use “Democracy Under Attack” as the protest’s theme, arguing that its own record in office should come under scrutiny.
“What is the theme of the NPP’s planned protest again? ‘Democracy under attack’?” he wrote in a social media post.
He accused the NPP of failing to speak out while policies implemented during its time in government caused hardship for many Ghanaians.
“You committed the most egregious sin against democracy, and you haven’t even apologized. Democracy will continue to attack you until you apologise!” he stated.
Mr Cudjoe also criticised the party’s handling of the economy, claiming that government decisions damaged the savings and investments of millions of Ghanaians.
“We have not even added the highway pickpocketing of savings and investments of millions just to save what was left of a junk-rated economy,” he wrote.
The IMANI Africa president said the planned demonstration would also interfere with a national discussion on plastic waste that he had arranged for 6 August.
He said the discussion had been due to air live on television and radio, but would now have to be rescheduled because of the expected media coverage of the protest.
“Now I am forced to reschedule a more important national conversation on plastic waste to be aired on live TV and radio on August 6 because media plans to cover the unnecessary demo,” he said.
Mr Cudjoe further raised concerns about the environmental consequences of the march, claiming that demonstrators could leave waste behind on the streets.
“The unnecessary demo… would leave behind piles of rubbish, including plastics on our streets, irresponsibly,” he added.
The march is scheduled to start at the Supreme Court before passing the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and Jubilee House. It is due to conclude at Parliament.
The NPP’s planned action is intended by its organisers to draw attention to what they describe as threats to Ghana’s democratic governance under the current administration. Those concerns include alleged political persecution and the selective application of justice.
Mr Cudjoe’s criticism centres on the argument that the party must account for its own conduct in government before positioning itself as a defender of democracy. His comments also link the protest to wider concerns about the economic and environmental effects of public policy and large-scale demonstrations.
