The Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has issued a scathing condemnation of what it describes as the “continued abuse of police powers” under the leadership of the Akufo-Addo government, accusing the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) of turning the Ghana Police Service into a tool for political repression.
In a press statement released by George Opare Addo, the National Youth Organizer of the NDC, the Youth Wing highlighted the recent arrests of peaceful protesters from the Democracy Hub during the #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstration as evidence of the troubling trend.
“The NPP, led by Dr. Bawumia, has been unable to handle sustained patriotic protests, revealing this administration’s deep failures. In response, the government has used the police force to suppress dissent rather than address the legitimate concerns raised.
‘The confrontational stance taken by the police against the FixTheCountry and #Occupy JulorbiHouse movements is a result of political pressure to quell any form of opposition to the government”.
George Opare Addo, National Youth Organizer, National Democratic Congress (NDC)
The statement claimed that the police, rather than acting as neutral protectors of public order, have been used by the NPP to suppress dissent and undermine the democratic rights of citizens.
According to the NDC Youth Wing, these protests, which form part of a larger movement including the FixTheCountry campaign, have been met with forceful police opposition due to political pressure from the government.
This approach, the statement warned, reflects an authoritarian mindset aimed at stifling political opposition rather than promoting dialogue and solutions to the legitimate issues being raised.
Abuse of Legal Procedures
The NDC Youth Wing also expressed concern over the use of ex parte motions by the police, which the statement described as a “blatant affront” to the constitutional principles of fairness and justice.
The statement noted that these motions, often granted by the courts without giving notice to the opposing party, have been used to justify the forceful suppression of peaceful protests.
The Youth Wing argued that the misuse of ex parte procedures has been weaponized to curtail the constitutional right to protest as enshrined in Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution.
“This abuse of ex parte procedures to legitimize crackdowns on peaceful citizens is a direct stain on the conscience of our democracy”, the statement read.
It emphasized that such actions undermine the fundamental rights that Ghana’s Constitution seeks to protect and uphold.
Selective Enforcement: The Real Threat to Ghana
In a scathing rebuke of the government’s selective law enforcement, the NDC Youth Wing compared the police’s aggressive tactics against peaceful protesters to the glaring inaction in the face of rampant environmental degradation caused by illegal mining.
“While a few minor altercations occurred during the protests, these are insignificant compared to the ongoing destruction of our water bodies, forests, and lands caused by illegal mining,”
George Opare Addo, National Youth Organizer, National Democratic Congress (NDC)
The NDC Youth Wing pointed out that these environmental crimes, often perpetuated by corrupt government officials, represent a far greater threat to the country than peaceful protests ever could.
The statement strongly asserted that despite the damage caused by illegal mining, the police and other security forces have failed to hold the perpetrators accountable, focusing instead on suppressing young patriots demanding accountability from their leaders.
Demand for Immediate Release of Protesters
The NDC Youth Wing made an urgent demand for the immediate release of all protesters detained during the #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstrations.
It vowed to pursue every legal avenue available to secure their freedom, announcing the mobilization of a team of young lawyers dedicated to defending the rights of these citizens.
“We will not stand by while the government employs authoritarian tactics to suppress the legitimate concerns of young Ghanaians,” the Youth Wing declared.
It called on the Ghana Police Service to return to its proper role as a protector of the people, rather than serving as a tool for political intimidation.
In a rallying cry to Ghanaians, civil society, and the international community, the NDC Youth Wing urged solidarity in the face of what it described as growing threats to Ghana’s democracy.
It emphasized that it is the collective responsibility of all citizens to safeguard the country’s future and resist attempts by the ruling government to silence dissenting voices.
“Ghana’s democracy will prevail, and no amount of police intimidation can extinguish the patriotic spirit of young Ghanaians fighting for a better future,” the statement concluded.
