Accra: Chairperson of the People's National Party (PNP), Janet Nabla, has declared her intention to dissolve most Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) should she become president. Nabla argues that many CSOs have deviated from their primary role of holding governments accountable, prompting her to take such measures if she assumes power.
According to Ghana Web, Nabla made her comments on the Dwaso Nsem show on Accra-based Adom FM. She criticized the arrest of individuals for voicing concerns over issues like power outages and emphasized that CSOs should protect free speech and influence government policies for the benefit of citizens. Nabla stated, "You arrested someone simply for saying 'dumsor is back'. When the PNP comes to power, we will take bold steps to dissolve most civil society organisations (CSOs). As president, I will use my veto power to correct wrongs because, at the end of the day, CSOs are meant to shape government decisions and ensure leaders do the right thing."
She further elaborated that many CSOs have shifted from their intended purpose and now act as government spokespersons. Nabla specifically called out IMANI Ghana for its criticism of former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia regarding his comments on free speech and the SALL issue. "However, I have observed that many CSOs no longer play this role. Instead, they appear to act as spokespersons, defending government actions rather than holding them accountable," she remarked.
Nabla accused some CSOs of operating under political party influences, using their platforms to selectively challenge authorities. She vowed to use her presidential veto power to dissolve organisations that fail in their mission. "We have rules and regulations in this country. He was neither the local government minister nor the Electoral Commission chair, so what authority did the president or vice president have to address SALL?" she questioned, underscoring her commitment to holding CSOs accountable for their actions.
Nabla concluded by defending Linda Ocloo after recent criticism, reiterating that the credibility of CSOs is compromised when they are influenced by political agendas. "This undermines their credibility and weakens their true purpose, which is to guide governments toward accountability and fairness," she said.