NPP undermining pillars of democracy - Asiedu Nketia

General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia says any Ghanaian who wants to uphold the country’s democracy needs to be worried about the way the Akufo-Addo-led government is steering the affairs of the country.

According to him the NPP government’s actions within its first year seeks to undermine the pillars of democracy in the country.

Asiedu Nketia said, “The conduct of NPP has sought to undermine the very pillars of democracy that we have built so far and if continues this way then we are heading for big trouble”

He said the government has been treating security agencies, media, judiciary and even the minority in parliament as well as the Electoral Commission unfairly.

According to him, attacks by pro-NPP vigilante groups on various government institutions and individuals such as the Delta Force attacks in Kumasi which went unpunished put into question the current government’s calls for freedom of speech and actions against impunity whilst they were in opposition.

“Since this country was created there has never been an occasion where thugs align to government will invade a sitting court to release suspects who are on trial and then you see judges and lawyers running for over… it has never happened where a senior police officer on duty at the presidency itself would be attacked by thugs aligned with government… and nothing happens by way of dealing with the culprits.”

“Is it the case that the freedom they were preaching applies when they are out of government and when they are in government they now have the right to be dictators and that others should be watching them,” he queried.

Mr. Nketia also expressed his disappointment in the sanctioning of 131 radio stations for not renewing their authorisations to operate as contained in Section 13 of the Electronics Communications Act (2009), Act 775.

“How did it happen that members of the New Patriotic Party will put up a government that will descend on 131 radio stations and close them all down with the stroke of a pen when immediately after the passage of the 1992 Constitution and before parliament and the other structures they imported radio equipment... and said that the Constitution gives them the power, nobody can sanction them because article 162 or so of the Constitution provides that there should be no media censorship,” Mr. Nketia asked.

Touching on the current happenings in the house of legislature, General Mosquito, as he is popularly called said, “You have a parliament where the minority is being dictated to as if their pupils in a classroom with Mr Speaker as the headmaster”.

These, among other things, he said explain why “everything about good governance is being turned upside down”.