Supporters of Ghana’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) have said public sentiment is moving in favour of the party and its 2024 presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, during a nationwide demonstration on Thursday.
The protest, held under the theme “Democracy Under Attack”, was organised by the NPP to raise concerns about what it described as growing intimidation of critics of the government, threats to freedom of expression and the protection of democratic institutions under the current administration.
Speaking to journalists during the demonstration, one protester rejected suggestions that those taking part were disgruntled NPP supporters. He said he was familiar with the political mood on the streets of Accra and argued that support for Mr Bawumia was increasing.
“The street is for Bawumia now,” he declared.
“Bawumia has taken the seat now.”
The demonstrator also dismissed claims that NPP members had joined the protest because they were frustrated or suffering hardship.
“They say we are hungry foot soldiers but that’s not true,” he said.
“Whatever you do, we are winning and moving forward.”
His comments reflected the confidence expressed by some NPP supporters about the party’s political prospects, despite the demonstration being focused on what the party presented as threats to Ghana’s democratic freedoms.
Another protester said dissatisfaction with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and President John Dramani Mahama was becoming widespread.
“The street is disappointed in the NDC,” the protester said.
“The street is disappointed in President Mahama.”
The NPP said its nationwide action was intended to draw attention to alleged pressure on people who criticise the government and to warn about potential risks to free expression and democratic institutions.
The party’s supporters used the demonstration to present their view that the political mood was turning against the NDC and towards Mr Bawumia, who was the NPP’s candidate in Ghana’s 2024 presidential election.
The government has rejected the allegations behind the protest. It says Ghana’s democratic principles remain intact and that constitutional freedoms continue to be protected.
The rival positions have placed the protection of democratic rights and the treatment of government critics at the centre of the NPP’s public campaign. While demonstrators argued that the country’s democratic institutions were under threat, the government maintained that the constitutional framework and freedoms guaranteed by it remained secure.
The comments from protesters in Accra also underlined the political message the NPP sought to promote through the demonstration: that dissatisfaction with the NDC and Mr Mahama was growing beyond the party’s own supporters.
For the NPP demonstrators, the protest was therefore both a challenge to the government’s record on democratic freedoms and an expression of confidence in Mr Bawumia’s political prospects.
