Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has warned that State officials involved in the abuse of power and intimidation of opposition members would eventually be held accountable.
According to Dr. Bawumia, the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration has, since assuming office on January 7, 2025, engaged in persistent harassment, arrests and intimidation of officers, activists and supporters of the NPP.
“I, therefore, serve notice to officers of the State who are active participants in this unholy enterprise that the day of accountability will come and the abuse of State power will be accounted for,” he declared in a statement issued in Accra yesterday.
The former Vice President accused the government of undermining democratic principles and free speech through what he described as politically motivated arrests, detentions and excessive bail conditions imposed on perceived opponents of the government.
He cited the arrest and detention of David Essandoh, the Agona West NPP Organiser, over comments on the return of intermittent power outages aka dumsor on social media, as well as the detention of the NPP Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe Abronye, popularly known as Abronye DC.
Dr. Bawumia said the actions were setting Ghana’s democracy backwards and weakening constitutional freedoms.
“These actions undermine free speech and are setting Ghana’s democracy backwards,” he stated.
He further alleged that there was an “unholy collaboration” between the Executive, State investigative agencies and some members of the judiciary to intimidate and silence members of the opposition party.
“I condemn in the strongest of terms, the unholy collaboration between the Executive, State investigative agencies, and some elements within the judiciary to use intimidation and harassment to silence members of the New Patriotic Party,” he said.
Dr. Bawumia also urged NPP supporters across the country not to give in to fear or intimidation but to continue demanding accountability from the government.
“To Patriots around the country, I urge you all to stay firm by refusing to succumb to intimidation while continuing your civic duty to hold the Government accountable to its promises,” he stated.
He maintained that the NPP would continue defending the nation’s democratic gains and resist attempts to suppress political opposition.
“We fought hard for this democracy and as a party, we cannot surrender it to intimidation from those who possess temporary power today,” he added.
By Ernest Kofi Adu