The NPP says the government failed to attach the needed importance to its concerns after only Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Jantuah was assigned to receive the party’s petition during its “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the government of failing to attach the needed importance to its concerns after only Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Jantuah was assigned to receive the party’s petition during its “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration on Thursday, August 6.
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who led the NPP delegation to the Jubilee House, said the party had demonstrated respect for government by presenting the petition through its senior leadership and expected a similar level of representation.
Speaking during the presentation, Mr Afenyo-Markin said the decision to send only Nana Yaa Jantuah to receive the petition was disappointing.
“With great respect and without prejudice to your presence, to nominate only you to come amounts to disrespecting us as a political party,” he said.
He argued that the composition of the NPP delegation reflected the seriousness the party attached to the issues it was raising.
“I am the leader of the party in Parliament, we have the General Secretary here, the Chief of Staff of the Flagbearer, the Chairman of the Constitutional Committee of the party, members of parliament and the leadership of the party are all here, but to disrespect our democracy by only nominating you to come, it means the government does not take seriously the great issues before us,” Mr Afenyo-Markin added.
The NPP’s “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration was organised to protest what the party describes as increasing political persecution, selective justice and threats to democratic governance under the current administration.
As part of the protest, the party presented petitions to the Presidency and the Supreme Court, outlining its concerns and calling for action on issues it believes require urgent attention.
Among the issues highlighted by the party are the acquittal and discharge of former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu; the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo; and the 20-year prison sentence imposed on the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The party argued that the decision raises serious concerns about the consistency and impartiality of Ghana’s justice system.
