The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has submitted petitions to Ghana’s Supreme Court and the Presidency, saying political persecution, selective justice and the misuse of state institutions pose growing threats to the country’s democratic governance.
The petitions were presented on Thursday as the party concluded its “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration in Accra. The protest was led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who said the action was intended to draw attention to developments the NPP believes are weakening the rule of law, judicial independence and confidence in Ghana’s democratic institutions.
A separate petition was first submitted to the Supreme Court before the party delivered another document at the forecourt of Jubilee House, the seat of Ghana’s Presidency.
Among the concerns raised by the NPP were the Court of Appeal’s acquittal and discharge of former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer Sedina Tamakloe Attionu. The party also cited the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo and the 20-year prison sentence imposed on Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, who is popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The party said those cases raised questions about the fairness, consistency and impartiality of Ghana’s justice system.
NPP supporters, wearing the party’s traditional red and black colours, marched through the principal streets of Accra. The demonstration was attended by senior party officials, Members of Parliament, former government appointees and grassroots supporters, with hundreds taking part.
The handover at Jubilee House was delayed briefly when security personnel prevented members of the media from entering the inner perimeter to report on the event. NPP leaders demanded that journalists be given access before the presentation could proceed.
A further disagreement followed when Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Jantuah arrived to receive the petition on behalf of the Presidency. The NPP initially refused to hand over the document, saying it had expected it to be accepted personally by President John Dramani Mahama or Chief of Staff Julius Debrah.
Party leaders described the absence of the Chief of Staff as a slight to the concerns set out in the petition.
After discussions between representatives of the NPP and officials acting for the Presidency, the party agreed to present the document to Nana Yaa Jantuah. She assured the delegation that the petition would be formally delivered to the Presidency.
The NPP said its submissions focused on what it regards as institutional and political developments that undermine Ghana’s democratic safeguards. It argued that the issues required attention because of their potential impact on the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and public trust in state institutions.
The demonstration therefore combined a public march with formal petitions to two of the country’s key institutions. The party’s stated objective was to highlight what it called “Democracy Under Attack” and to press for scrutiny of the matters it believes threaten Ghana’s democratic governance.
