Accra: General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, has warned that the party could respond to what it describes as intimidation and harassment of its members if the trend continues. He cautioned that if the "intimidation" continues, the NPP will respond in the same manner when it returns to power in the future.
According to Ghana Web, Kodua's comments follow a protest staged by party supporters at the Ghana Police Service Greater Accra Regional Police Headquarters. This demonstration was in response to a police invitation extended to NPP activist Nana Addo Nyame. Addressing a charged crowd of party supporters gathered outside the police premises, Kodua accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of allegedly using state institutions to target political opponents and silence dissenting voices.
He emphasized that democracy can only thrive when citizens and political actors are allowed to express differing opinions without fear of intimidation or arrest. "If we are doing democracy, you can't shut down someone else's ideas or speech because it's not everyone who will side with you," he stated.
The NPP General Secretary argued that previous administrations under former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo tolerated criticism and opposing political views without resorting to intimidation. He urged the current government led by President John Dramani Mahama to focus on addressing the country's challenges instead of allegedly targeting opposition members.
Kodua warned that continued political tension and alleged abuse of state institutions could damage Ghana's democratic progress and encourage retaliatory politics whenever governments change. He further stressed that the silence of political actors, civil society organizations, and ordinary citizens on such matters could allow a dangerous political culture to grow.