The High Cost of a Comeback: Dangerous Precedents from the New NDC Regime

John Dramani Mahama has clawed his way back to power after two failed attempts, riding on the hopes of Ghanaians who believed he deserved a second chance. After eight years in opposition, he was granted another opportunity in the 2024 elections. But what has followed is not leadership — it is a clear threat to our democracy.

Let’s be clear: this is not the first time the NDC has spent eight years in opposition. Between 2001 and 2008, the party regrouped with dignity, discipline, and respect for our democratic values. The difference this time is alarming. Today’s NDC leadership has chosen aggression over accountability, force over fairness, and personal revenge over national unity.

During the campaign, the NDC promised to rescue Ghana from what they described as a “tattered economy.” But what we are witnessing now is not rescue — it is retribution. The transition into power has been anything but democratic. It has been chaotic, vindictive, and dangerous.

One of the most reckless acts is the use of ORAL raids—unlawful break-ins into private homes under the guise of national security. These are not isolated incidents. They are calculated moves to intimidate and silence. Under Mahama’s watch, innocent citizens are being treated like criminals without due process. If this continues, future governments will feel justified in using even harsher tactics. That is not the Ghana we want. That is not the Ghana we fought for.

Then comes the reckless directive to cancel all public employment done after the election. Civil servants — Ghanaians, not politicians — are being sacked simply for being employed under a different administration. This is petty. This is dangerous. If employment under NPP is illegitimate, what stops future governments from cancelling NDC-era appointments? Are we now enemies because of who we vote for? This is a slippery slope to division and chaos.

And now, the most shocking move yet: the targeted attack on the Chief Justice. Trying to remove the CJ over flimsy allegations is nothing short of an assault on the judiciary. This is not about reform. It is about control. No judge will ever be safe from political vengeance if this dangerous precedent is allowed. The bench will become a pawn — not a pillar — of our democracy. Judges in pampers, not robes. Is that the future Mahama envisions?

Ghana must wake up. We must protect the values that hold us together: the rule of law, fairness, and national unity. This administration's actions are not just missteps but ticking time bombs. If we do not speak up now, we may lose the very foundation of our democracy. This is bigger than politics. This is about Ghana's soul. Ghanaians deserve better, and the time to defend our country is now.

Isaac Ofori
Social Activist and Human Rights Advocate
[email protected]