General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, has called on Ghana’s Judiciary to uphold the rule of law and guarantee that the rights of every citizen are protected without political bias or selective enforcement.
Speaking on Thursday during a massive street demonstration in Accra, dubbed “#DemocracyUnderAttack”, the NPP scribe expressed grave concern over what he described as judicial passivity in the face of state-sponsored persecution targeting opposition members.
Background:
Tensions between the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and the opposition NPP have escalated in recent months over allegations of political witch-hunting.
The NPP organized the “#DemocracyUnderAttack” protest to register public disgust over what it characterizes as the weaponization of state security apparatuses and law enforcement agencies to intimidate political opponents under the Mahama administration.
Selective Justice:
Presenting a formal petition to a representative of the Judicial Service, Kodua accused the ruling government of systematically targeting opposition figures through unlawful arrests, prolonged detentions, and arbitrary legal tactics.
“It has now become a standard pattern for the NDC government to arrest our members, press dubious charges, and demand capricious bail conditions designed to instill fear,” Kodua stated.
He added, “What is most upsetting is that the Judiciary appears, at times, to play along with this persecution.”
He further highlighted a growing double standard in the administration of justice:
“Today’s demonstration is aimed at drawing the Judiciary’s attention to a dangerous precedent set by the NDC government. They operate under two different sets of standards, persecuting NPP members while shielding NDC members who break the law, even when those NDC members have been lawfully arrested.”
Appeal:
Highlighting the potential risks of public disillusionment with the legal system, Kodua warned that state-sanctioned persecution could erode trust in democratic institutions and trigger civil unrest if left unchecked.
“The court remains the ultimate refuge for the Ghanaian people,” he emphasized.
He also noted, “If care is not taken, citizens may feel compelled to defend themselves outside the law once they realize that even the Judiciary will not fight for their justice.”
Kodua appealed directly to the Chief Justice to intervene and restore public confidence in the legal system:
“We handed over a fully functional state to the NDC, and we will not stand by and allow the government to use state power to perpetuate hatred against NPP members. We appeal to the Chief Justice to ensure that the rule of law applies equally to everyone, not one set of laws for NDC members and another for the NPP. Such selective justice portends danger for our nation’s democracy.”
Story By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie,
Kumasi
