NPP’s ‘Democracy Under Attack’ demonstration comes off today

Today, Thursday, August 6, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is set to hold its "Democracy Under Attack" nationwide demonstration. The protest will commence at 6:00 a.m. at the Supreme Court and culminate at the Jubilee House. The NPP has expressed concerns about potential threats to Ghana's democratic governance, including alleged restrictions on free expression, the treatment of opposition voices, and what they describe as an erosion of democratic institutions.

The party's spokesperson, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, stated that the demonstration is a response to what they perceive as attempts to suppress dissent and undermine democratic values. Aboagye emphasized that "there is always the temptation by people in power to suppress the voices and rights of the people. But there is an inherent self-purge with democracy.

Try as you may, you can never suppress the will of the people." He also highlighted issues such as the arrest of opposition figures, the detention of individuals for alleged insults, the arrest of TikTok users and media practitioners, bail conditions, and concerns about the relationship between the Executive and the Judiciary as potential threats to Ghana's democracy. Aboagye urged authorities to practice equal application of the law and avoid "selective justice."

The NPP maintains that the demonstration is aimed at defending civil liberties, the rule of law, and democratic accountability. However, the government has rejected allegations of targeting political opponents, asserting that state institutions function independently and that law enforcement actions are carried out in accordance with due process.