The May 5, 2025, demonstration, organised by the New Patriotic Party, alongside several other political groups, was aimed at stopping the government's attempt to remove Chief Justice Gertrude Esaaba Araba Sackey Torkornoo from office.

This move came after President John Dramani suspended Torkornoo following allegations made by three petitioners.

In response to these events, the NPP and many concerned Ghanaians took to the streets of Accra, gathering around key landmarks such as the Supreme Court, Parliament House, and the Jubilee House to express their frustrations.

The protest ultimately culminated in the submission of a petition that conveyed the public’s demands.

Led by Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the petition detailed what the group described as "the sins of Mahama" and was formally handed over to Deputy Chief of Staff, Stan Dogbe, for further action.

Reading from the petition, which he described as ‘respectful and decent’, Afenyo-Markin heavily criticised almost every action of the Mahama government, using very strong words against the president and his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Below is the complete statement from the petition presented by Afenyo-Markin, which details the alleged wrongdoings of the Mahama government:

1. Establishing an unconstitutional ORAL:

The Minority Leader accused Mahama of starting his attack on Ghana’s democracy even before being sworn into office by establishing the ‘unconstitutional’ Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) preparatory committee.

He accused the president of using ORAL to target appointees of the previous New Patriotic Party government while freeing his appointees who were being prosecuted.

“Even before the NDC under President Mahama could assume the reins of government, we saw a violent attack on our constitutional order.

“They established a so-called ORAL, a committee without any legal basis or constitutional backing, which engaged in flagrant illegalities. That was the opening salvo in what has now become a full-blown campaign to dismantle our sacred democratic foundations,” he said.

2. Using mercenaries to prevent declaration of Ablekuma North parliamentary election results:

Afenyo-Markin also accused President Mahama of preventing the declaration of the Ablekuma North parliamentary election results, which he claims was won by the NPP candidate.

“Under candidate Mahama’s leadership, the NDC deployed mercenaries and thugs to polls across the country, and we all know what happened late last year. Honourable Akua Afriyie has won the Ablekuma North seat, the EC is asking for security to enable them to declare, NDC is saying they are not going to provide security.

“What is preventing the IGP — the previous IGP and the current IGP — from providing security for the Electoral Commission to complete its mandate?” he said.

3. Weaponising the security services:

The Effutu legislator also accused Mahama of weaponising the nation’s security services by deploying them to the homes of their political opponents.

He said that President Mahama’s government has used security operatives to ransack the homes of his political opponents, including former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Ernest Addison, and former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.

He accused the government of running “a tyranny clothed in robes of democracy.”

4. An autocrat arbitrarily dismissing senior military officers:

Afenyo-Markin accused President Mahama of becoming autocratic.

He said that the president’s dismissal of senior military officials and invitation of military dictators to his inauguration are signs of an autocratic leader who wants to rule for life.

“Our military, once revered for its non-partisanship, is now being painted in NDC colours. This is a dangerous betrayal of the republic.

“...President Mahama no longer sees himself as a president; he fancies himself as an autocrat and ruler for life.”

5. Mahama relentlessly attacking the judiciary:

The Minority Leader also accused the president of attacking the judiciary, with the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, being his latest target.

He claimed that the president wants to have a judiciary that bows to the will of a “dictator.”

VKB/AE

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