The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has warned of retaliation. It states it will respond in kind to alleged harassment, intimidation, and arrests of its members by state institutions. This warning comes if the trend continues and the party returns to power.
This strong caution was issued by the NPP’s General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua. He spoke during a protest at the Ghana Police Service’s Greater Accra Regional Police Headquarters. The protest was a response to a police invitation extended to NPP activist Nana Addo Nyame. Mr. Kodua accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of using state bodies to target political opponents. He argued this suppresses differing opinions and undermines democratic principles. Democracy requires tolerance and freedom of expression, he stated. Punishing opposing political views is not acceptable.
Mr. Kodua referenced past administrations under Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He claimed critics and rivals could express their views freely then. No intimidation occurred. He urged the NDC government to show tolerance and focus on running the country. Targeting opposition figures is counterproductive, he said. He noted that when the NDC was in opposition, Ghanaians chose the NDC government. This implies a democratic process for power change.
The NPP General Secretary stressed that continuing these alleged politically motivated actions would deepen political tension. It would also undermine Ghana’s democratic progress. "Don’t say the NPP will not do the same thing. We will do the same because when they were doing it, people saw it and remained silent," Mr. Kodua cautioned. He added that if political actors and civil society groups remain silent on such alleged intimidation and abuse of power, future governments might replicate this cycle of retaliation. "So if you don’t advise the NDC and they continue with this behaviour, we will continue when we also come into office," he declared.
This protest highlights growing concerns within the NPP. The party claims a rise in police invitations, arrests, and investigations involving its members and activists since the NDC took government in 2021. The NPP's warning suggests a potential escalation in political tensions. This could impact Ghana's political stability and investor confidence. The cycle of political retribution mentioned by Kodua is a worrying prospect for democratic governance. It raises questions about the impartiality of state institutions. Observers will monitor the government's response and any future actions by both parties.