Deputy Director of Elections and IT of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rashid Tanko Computer has dismissed the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) claim that Ghana's democracy is under attack, arguing that the opposition party undermined democratic freedoms while it was in government and was punished by voters at the last general elections.
Speaking to Channel One TV on Thursday, August 6, as the NPP staged its nationwide “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration, Mr Tanko said the party has no moral authority to accuse the current administration of suppressing democracy.
He rebuked the party for not being at the one-year anniversary to remember the eight government and army officials who died in a helicopter crash en route to Obuasi on an anti-illegal mining mission.
He labeled the NPP's charge that they were mourning democracy as unfounded.
"They killed Ghana's democracy. That's why they got 38.2 per cent in the last general election," he said.
According to him, the NPP's electoral defeat reflected Ghanaians' assessment of its record in office.
He alleged that journalists faced severe intimidation during the Akufo-Addo administration with some reportedly fleeing the country out of fear for their safety.
"Under their regime, journalists were murdered, some run away from this country because [for fear for] their life, the judiciary had a cause to be cautioned the then Minister of National Security to desist from their one-way ruling. It was not in their interest. That was under the regime of Nana Akufo-Addo [and the NPP]," he said.
Mr Tanko maintained that the NPP's criticism of the Mahama administration over democratic governance lacked credibility in light of its own record while in power.
The NPP has said its nationwide protest was organised to draw attention to what it describes as growing intimidation of critics and threats to freedom of expression under President John Mahama's administration.
The government has rejected those allegations.
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