By Francis Kobena Tandoh
Former Energy Minister and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman hopeful Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko has urged President John Dramani Mahama to channel the energies of his administration towards solving the economic challenges facing the people instead of chasing his critics, according to a statement on Tuesday.
He condemned the persistent arrest and detention of members of the largest opposition in the country for expressing their views on pertinent national issues.
According to him, such action by the government is an affront to Article 21 (1) (a) of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law.
Mr. Agyarko urged the Mahama administration, as a matter of urgency, to free all detained persons and give them a fair hearing in court, decriminalize dissent, and focus on governance.
“I have observed with growing concern and deep revulsion the systematic arrest and detention of NPP activists for simply exercising their right to dissent. As a firm believer in the rule of law, I must state clearly that these actions signal a dangerous retreat toward autocracy and a direct assault on the pillars of our Fourth Republic,” read the statement.
“I call on President John Mahama and all state actors to ensure all activists detained for speech-related “offenses” must be freed or granted a fair and transparent day in court, cease using Section 208 of the Criminal Code to stifle political debate, and redirect its energy from chasing critics toward solving the economic challenges that fuel criticisms,” he added.
The NPP chairman hopeful assured victims of such arrests of his unflinching support, including exhausting every legal channel to ensure their rights are protected.
The former energy minister urged state actors and other stakeholders, including the Ghana Police Service, the National Peace Council, the clergy, and civil society organizations (CSOs), to intervene in the decline in the country’s democratic dispensation.
Mr. Agyarko urged Ghanaians to ensure intolerance does not undermine the country’s democracy, emphasizing that Ghana continues to be a symbol of hope in Africa. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
