Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
Government has called on political actors to feel free to differ on national policies but refrain from actions that have the tendency to undermine the country’s democracy.
The Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who conveyed the government’s response to the Dean of the University of Ghana Law School, Professor Raymond Atuguba, following his imminent coup comment, said while the NPP administration has no problem with people expressing divergent views on policies and national developments.
He said however, that the government abhors attempts by some people to lace their commentary with anti-democratic insinuations that undermine the democratic dispensation currently in place.
“Comments to the effect that some conditions are rife for a coup are most unfortunate and disappointing. They are disappointing because despite COVID-19, Ghana’s current economic status is far better than the days of yesteryear when there was no global pandemic.
“Even if they were worse, the constitution provides legitimate means for advocating for and executing a change. For respected persons to be purporting that such conditions legitimise coups is a terrible attack on our democracy itself and should not be condoned,” the minister said.
Prof. Atuguba, at a public forum last Monday, had suggested that the country’s current economic situation is serving as a fertile ground for a coup.
However, his comment has received widespread condemnation, notably from former Attorney General, Dr. Obed Asamoah, describing it as “childish” and coming from someone who is unaware of the consequences of military takeovers.
Similarly, Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin, expressed worry over the comments from the law lecturer.
The Speaker said such comments were in bad taste and did not augur well for the progress of the country.