Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has called for an end to what he described as selective justice and political retaliation, insisting that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is not opposed to accountability but rejects what he says is the unequal application of the law.
Speaking during the “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration held on Thursday, August 6, Afenyo-Markin argued that opposition Members of Parliament and political figures are increasingly being subjected to investigations after expressing their views, raising concerns about what he described as intimidation of political opponents.
“We are not against accountability, but we are against selective justice,” he declared.
According to the Minority Leader, some Members of Parliament have been invited by investigative agencies after making contributions on the floor of Parliament, a development he questioned as inconsistent with democratic principles.
He argued that criticism of government should not expose lawmakers or political actors to investigations, insisting that freedom of expression and parliamentary debate must be protected.
Afenyo-Markin also referenced concerns previously raised by members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding the conditions under which suspects are held.
He cited former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, who, according to him, had complained on the floor of Parliament about what he described as unlawful detention conditions. He also mentioned Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak as having expressed concerns over the treatment of suspects.
The Minority Leader said these concerns demonstrate that issues relating to justice and due process transcend political affiliations.
Afenyo-Markin urged political leaders to abandon what he termed the “you do me, I do you” approach to governance, arguing that Ghana’s democracy would only flourish if successive governments resisted the temptation to target political opponents.
“As a country, we must end this vicious cycle of ‘you do me, I do you.’ I’ve been talking about this for quite some time now,” he said.
He stressed that his appeal was not motivated by the fact that members of his party were currently facing investigations but reflected a long-held conviction that politics should be conducted with respect and civility.
“I don’t say this because it is my people who are going through this situation. I say this because all my life I’ve believed that we can do politics in a very decent way. I believe in that decent approach to politics.”
Afenyo-Markin cautioned that continued allegations of political persecution could deepen divisions and make it difficult for moderate voices within the NPP to restrain more hardline elements should the party return to power.
“For me, if they don’t stop, it will be difficult for the moderates in the NPP to calm the nerves of the extremists when the NPP comes to office tomorrow. But is that what we want as a country? No. That’s not what we want.”
He concluded by emphasising that the “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration was not directed against Ghana itself but was intended as a call for fairness, justice, equal application of the law, and the protection of the country’s democratic values.
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