NPP demonstration meant to mar one-year helicopter crash anniversary – Solomon Owusu

The United Party's Director of Communications, Solomon Owusu, has lambasted the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for organizing nationwide protests on the first anniversary of a helicopter crash that killed eight men. Owusu contends that the NPP's "Democracy Under Attack" demonstration is politically motivated and serves to overshadow the somber occasion.

The opposition party argues that recent events threaten Ghana's democratic governance, but Owusu dismisses this claim, stating that the NPP has "no business whatsoever" being on the streets. He questions the legitimacy of the party's claims, pointing out that people have been arrested for expressing themselves, which he believes is not representative of Ghana's democratic environment.

Owusu also highlights that the NPP has a history of exercising its constitutional right to protest without hindrance, citing past demonstrations such as "Save the Judiciary" and "Yɛn Suro Ahunahuna." He suggests that the NPP's current actions demonstrate hypocrisy, particularly regarding concerns about political insults and intolerance.

Drawing from his experience as a former NPP member, Owusu asserts that the party has a long-standing tradition of using harsh language against political opponents, citing instances involving the late President Jerry John Rawlings and John Evans Atta Mills. He specifically references a derogatory comment made by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko in 2002 against John Evans Atta Mills, questioning the relevance of such remarks today.

Additionally, Owusu addresses the reported arrest of 21 individuals during the NPP-led protests, arguing that similar incidents occurred during his party's rule, thereby undermining the current criticism's consistency.