NPP stages 'Democracy Under Attack' protests, files petitions over judicial concerns

The New Patriotic Party mounted a significant show of force in Accra on Wednesday, organising nationwide demonstrations against what it describes as creeping threats to Ghana's democratic institutions. Led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the NPP submitted formal petitions to both the Supreme Court and Jubilee House, arguing that recent judicial decisions reveal a troubling pattern of selective justice and political persecution by the government.

The party's campaign, branded "Democracy Under Attack", drew hundreds of supporters dressed in NPP colours through the streets of the capital. The demonstration included party executives, parliamentary representatives, former government officials and grassroots members, signalling the opposition's determination to mobilise its base around what it frames as an existential challenge to Ghana's constitutional order.

The specific grievances

The NPP highlighted three cases as evidence of judicial inconsistency under the current administration. The party pointed to the acquittal and discharge of Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre, as problematic. It also objected to the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, citing concerns about judicial independence. Most prominently, the NPP has taken issue with the 20-year prison sentence handed to its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi, suggesting the severity contrasts sharply with decisions benefiting government-linked figures.

These cases, the party argues, demonstrate a justice system increasingly weaponised for political advantage rather than applied impartially across society.

Tension at Jubilee House

The handover of the petition to the Presidency became a focal point of political theatre. When security personnel initially barred journalists from the inner perimeter of Jubilee House, NPP leaders refused to proceed, insisting on media access. The party then declined to present the petition to Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Jantuah, stating they expected Chief of Staff Julius Debrah or President John Mahama himself to receive it personally. The NPP interpreted the absence of senior officials as disrespectful to the gravity of their concerns.

After further negotiation, the delegation accepted Ms Jantuah as an intermediary, though the initial standoff underscored growing tension between the opposition and government institutions.

Why this matters for Ghana

Ghana's reputation internationally rests substantially on its record as one of West Africa's more stable democracies. Yet opposition parties' loss of confidence in judicial impartiality strikes at the foundations of that stability. Whether the NPP's claims hold merit or reflect partisan frustration, the fact that a major political party openly questions the independence and fairness of courts signals erosion in institutional legitimacy that transcends individual court decisions.

The "Democracy Under Attack" framing taps into broader anxieties about political polarisation and the use of state machinery for partisan gain—concerns that resonate beyond the NPP's core supporters. Ghanaians have historically taken pride in relatively peaceful power transfers and respect for democratic norms; protests like this reflect anxiety that those norms may be weakening.

The coming months will reveal whether these petitions prompt substantive government response or policy review, or whether they remain symbolic gestures in an increasingly adversarial political climate.