The New Patriotic Party (NPP), together with a coalition of political parties, civil society organizations and other groups, on Thursday presented a petition to President John Dramani Mahama, alleging what they described as a deterioration of constitutional democracy and the rule of law in Ghana.
The petition was submitted following a demonstration in Accra themed “Democracy Under Attack Demo”. Copies were addressed to the Chief Justice, the Speaker of Parliament, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Ghana Bar Association, the National Peace Council and the media.
In the petition, the organizers accused the Mahama administration of undermining democratic institutions, interfering with the independence of the judiciary, suppressing free expression and using state security agencies to target political opponents. They argued that Ghana’s democratic credentials were under threat and called for what they described as the restoration of constitutional governance.
Among the issues raised were concerns about the independence of the judiciary following the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo. The petitioners claimed that judges were operating under an atmosphere of fear and alleged that administrative directives affecting defence lawyers’ statutory vacation threatened the constitutional right to legal representation.
The petition also criticised the recent conviction of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi. The NPP described the conviction as politically motivated and referred to him as a “political prisoner,” arguing that there was insufficient evidence to justify the court’s decision. The party further alleged that government officials and ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) members accused of involvement in illegal mining had not faced similar levels of investigation or prosecution.
On freedom of expression, the petition alleged that the government was effectively reintroducing criminal libel through the use of provisions of the Criminal Offences Act. The petitioners claimed that journalists, social media commentators, politicians and activists had been arrested or investigated over political commentary, creating what they described as a chilling effect on public discourse.
The document further accused state institutions of applying the law selectively. It alleged that petitions submitted against some NDC officials over alleged political violence and illegal mining had not received the same investigative attention as cases involving opposition figures. The petition also criticised what it described as the use of prosecutorial discretion to discontinue cases involving some NDC members.
The petitioners further expressed concern over what they described as the weaponization of state security agencies through dawn raids, arrests and detention of former government officials. They alleged that constitutional provisions requiring suspects to be brought before court within 48 hours and legal standards governing bail were not being consistently observed.
The group also questioned the government’s plans to reintroduce a tribunal system, arguing that such a move could undermine constitutional safeguards if not implemented with full judicial independence and due process.
In one of the petition’s most significant claims, the organizers alleged that the cumulative effect of the government’s actions pointed to an attempt to create conditions for a future third-term bid by President Mahama. They argued that weakening democratic institutions could facilitate constitutional changes to extend executive tenure, although they did not provide evidence that such a process had formally begun.
The petition concluded with several demands, including an end to what it described as politically motivated arrests and surveillance, the cessation of criminal prosecutions relating to political speech, equal enforcement of the law against all political actors, adherence to constitutional bail provisions and renewed protection of judicial independence.
The petitioners warned that if their concerns were not addressed, they would continue to exercise what they described as their constitutional right to engage in peaceful nationwide demonstrations and other lawful forms of civic action.
As of Thursday, there was no immediate official response from the Presidency to the allegations contained in the petition.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
