By Leo Nelson
Former Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has sounded the alarm over what he describes as growing intimidation against members of the opposition New Patriotic Party across the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Dr Bawumia accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration of overseeing a pattern of arrests, detentions and strict bail conditions affecting NPP officers, activists and supporters since January 2025.
He cited recent incidents involving social media commentator David Essandoh and Bono Regional Chairman Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye, as developments that raise concerns about Ghana’s democratic environment.
Dr Bawumia stated that concerns over power outages should not lead to punitive responses from state institutions. He stressed that democratic governance required the protection of free expression and the right of citizens to criticise public officials.
“These actions undermine free speech and are setting Ghana’s democracy backwards.”
The Former Vice President also drew attention to what he described as an unhealthy relationship between the Executive, investigative bodies and sections of the judiciary, arguing that the use of state authority against political opponents risked weakening public confidence in constitutional governance.
Dr Bawumia further pointed to growing fear among party supporters in parts of the country. He stated that intimidation had no place in a democratic society where differing political opinions remained vital to national development.
“We fought hard for this democracy and as a party, we cannot surrender it to intimidation from those who possess temporary power today.”
The NPP Flagbearer also urged supporters of the New Patriotic Party to remain calm, law abiding and engage in public discourse while continuing to exercise their civic responsibilities, adding that political participation and vigilance remained central to Ghana’s democratic system.
The NPP leader urged party supporters nationwide to remain resolute amid what he described as abuse of state authority against opposition figures.
In the statement, Dr Bawumia called on party faithful to remain committed to civic engagement while demanding accountability from government officials over national promises and responsibilities.
He emphasised that democracy thrives when citizens freely express their views without fear and encouraged supporters to remain focused despite recent political developments involving opposition-linked individuals.
“To Patriots around the country, I urge you all to stay firm and resist intimidation while continuing your civic duty to hold the Government accountable to its promises.”
Dr Bawumia further cautioned public officers against the misuse of state institutions for political purposes. He noted that the exercise of public authority carried responsibility and would ultimately be subject to scrutiny.
He also underscored the importance of safeguarding Ghana’s democratic culture through tolerance, participation and adherence to constitutional principles.
