Government harassing, persecuting our members-NDC petitions Commonwealth

The biggest Opposition Party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress(NDC) has petitioned the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth in London.

The Party indicates that various acts of human rights violations, criminal persecutions, and harassment are being perpetrated against its members by the ruling Government.

It further indicates that since the assumption of office of President Akufo-Addo in 2016, elections have turned into forms of violence against its members and supporters

In a statement signed by the Party’s General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketsia, the NDC catalogs instances of human rights violations, harassment, and criminal persecutions of its members by the Government of Ghana.

It mentions among others; “Republic v Stephen Kwabena Opuni and two others, The Republic vs Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and Anthony Kwaku Boahen,  and The Republic vs Cassiel Ato Forson and 2 others.”

Additionally, the petition notes that these actions by the Government, threaten Ghan’s political stability and further erode our democratic values thus calling on the Commonwealth to closely follow the political and human rights situation in Ghana, send a team to investigate the matters raised among others.

“We humbly request the Commonwealth of Nations through your good office to: i. closely follow the political and human rights situation in Ghana since the promotion and protection of human rights, democracy, and fundamental freedoms is a core value of the Commonwealth; 

ii. send a team to investigate the matters raised, and in particular, send a team of lawyers, judges, and legal experts to assess the adequacy and quality of the justice being administered to members of the NDC who are facing criminal persecutions; 

continue to engage with the Government of Ghana and support and encourage their pursuit of accountability for the perpetrators of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency bye-election violence and the gruesome state-sponsored killings of eight (8) innocent Ghanaians during the 7th December 2020 general elections; 

iv. monitor the human rights situation in Ghana and the criminal persecutions of members of the NDC.”