The Myth of a "Threatened Democracy": Why the NPP’s Selective Amnesia Will Keep Them in Opposition

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) recently took to the streets under the banner of a "Democracy Under Attack" demonstration, protesting the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo and the legal acquittals of certain political figures. To the objective observer, this spectacle represents a profound exercise in political irony and selective amnesia. After presiding over an eight-year tenure that critics widely describe as an economic and structural disaster, the NPP’s attempt to reposition itself as the vanguard of democratic institutionalism is a difficult sell for the Ghanaian electorate. True democratic accountability does not choose when to care about the rule of law. It requires consistency—something the current NPP leadership has struggled to demonstrate. If the party truly wishes to regain the trust of the sovereign people of Ghana, it must halt the street agitations, embark on deep internal introspection, and structurally reform a brand heavily burdened by unaddressed baggage.

The Hypocrisy of the "Democracy Under Attack" Rhetoric

The core arguments raised during the opposition rally fall flat when measured against historical precedents and current realities:

• The Reinstatement Vow: Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s declaration that a future Mahamudu Bawumia administration would reinstating Gertrude Torkornoo in 2028 undermines the very judicial independence the party claims to defend by promising to politicize the appointment of the judiciary head.
• Selective Institutional Outrage: The party's outrage over institutional removals ignores their own governance record, which included the highly controversial ousters of former Electoral Commission Chairperson Charlotte Osei and former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo.
• The Liberty of Protest: The fact that the NPP can freely organize, mobilize, and occupy the streets of Accra under state police protection directly contradicts the narrative that basic democratic freedoms and free speech are dead in Ghana.

The Unresolved Baggage: Unanswered Accountability

The NPP cannot successfully champion accountability for current judicial outcomes while leaving major financial and structural questions from their own time in governance completely unanswered:

• The Pwalugu Dam Scandal: Millions of taxpayer dollars were allocated for the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam project, yet the site remains an incomplete project. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s economic and leadership team has yet to provide a transparent, line-by-line financial accounting of where those funds went.
• The PDS Debacle: The Power Distribution Services (PDS) concession agreement remains one of the most significant institutional failures in recent energy governance, leaving state assets exposed without definitive legal or financial closure for the public.
• Eight Years of Economic Strain: The legacy of the previous eight years—characterized by historic debt levels, inflation peaks, and the painful haircut of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP)—remains a primary source of voter fatigue.

Strategic Recommendations and Suggestions for the NPP

If the NPP wishes to avoid a permanent stint in opposition, street protests targeting independent constitutional processes are counterproductive. Instead, the party should pursue the following structural reforms:

1. Initiate Deep Internal Introspection: The party leadership must frankly acknowledge the policy failures, economic mismanagement, and governance missteps of their eight-year tenure rather than shifting blame entirely to current administrative processes.
2. Conduct a Complete Brand Reorganisation: Move away from aggressive, confrontational rhetoric that alienates neutral and middle-class voters who value institutional stability and economic predictability over partisan legal battles.
3. Select a New Flagbearer Without Baggage: The party must look beyond candidates heavily tied to past economic failures and controversial deals. Transitioning leadership to a fresh, unblemished face will allow the NPP to present a credible, untainted vision for Ghana's future.
4. Present Concrete Policy Alternatives: Instead of litigating past judicial decisions on the streets, the NPP should focus on producing rigorous, data-driven policy alternatives to tackle Ghana’s current youth unemployment, fiscal management, and structural growth.

Conclusion

The Ghanaian electorate has evolved past the era of superficial political theatrics. Shouting about a "dying democracy" while ignoring the multi-million dollar ghosts of Pwalugu, PDS, and economic hardship will not convince a discerning public. The NPP's current trajectory—heavy with political baggage and defined by selective outrage—threatens to keep the party in opposition for the foreseeable future. The path to redemption does not lie in undermining the credibility of the judiciary or promising political reinstatements. It lies in humility, thorough internal reform, and the courage to present a completely reorganized leadership structure that prioritizes national interest over partisan self-preservation. Until the NPP looks into the mirror and reforms from within, the streets will remain a place of noise rather than a path back to state power.

A Prayer for Leadership, Wisdom, and Remembrance

Heavenly Father, God of justice and truth,
We lift up NPP presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, and all political leaders across our nation. We pray that You grant them profound clarity of mind to remember the plight, the struggles, and the heavy sacrifices of the ordinary Ghanaian people over the years.

Remove any veil of selective amnesia, political convenience, or institutional ignorance from their hearts. Grant them the humility to acknowledge past missteps, the courage to seek genuine forgiveness where governance has fallen short, and a steadfast commitment to transparent accountability. Touch their hearts to prioritize the truth over partisan interests, and guide them—and all who lead us—on a path of sincere introspection, justice, and true service to the Republic of Ghana.

Amen.
✍️ Retired Senior Citizen
For and on behalf of all Senior Citizens of the Republic of Ghana 🇬🇭

Teshie-Nungua
[email protected]