Former Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia, has accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration of undermining democracy and suppressing free speech through what he described as politically motivated arrests and intimidation of opposition supporters.
In a statement issued on Wednesday May 13,2026, Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said he was “deeply concerned” about what he called a growing assault on the rights of NPP officers, activists, and supporters across the country.
The former vice president alleged that arrests, detentions, and what he termed “unconscionable bail conditions” had become common since the NDC assumed office on January 7, 2025.
Bawumia specifically referenced the arrest and subsequent release of social media commentator David Essandoh, who had reportedly posted online about the return of “dumsor,” a local term used to describe persistent power outages.
He also cited the detention of NPP Bono Regional Chairman Kwame Baffoe Abronye as further evidence of what he characterized as political intimidation.
“These actions undermine free speech and are setting Ghana’s democracy backwards,” Bawumia said in the statement, adding that there appeared to be collaboration between sections of the executive, investigative agencies, and elements within the judiciary to harass members of the opposition party.
The NPP flagbearer further warned that public officials involved in alleged abuses of power would one day be held accountable, while urging party supporters and citizens to remain steadfast and continue demanding accountability from government.
“We fought hard for this democracy and as a party, we cannot surrender it to intimidation from those who possess temporary power today,” he stated.
The statement is likely to intensify political tensions between the NPP and the governing NDC amid an already polarized national political climate.
As of publication, the government had not officially responded to the allegations raised by Bawumia.
CREDIT: Mavis Fantevi
