Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has described an “unholy alliance” between the Executive arm of government and some elements within the judiciary aimed at silencing members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Addressing a press conference at the NPP headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra, the Minority Leader strongly condemned the arrest, prosecution, and remand of Bono Regional Chairman of the NPP, Kwame Baffoe, insisting that the actions taken against him represent a dangerous assault on constitutional democracy and freedom of expression.
According to Afenyo Markin, the circumstances surrounding Abronye DC’s arrest and detention point to a disturbing pattern of political intimidation under the administration of President John Dramani Mahama.
“This is what Dr. Bawumia has rightly described as an unholy collaboration between the Executive, state investigative agencies, and some elements within the judiciary aimed at silencing the NPP. He is right. The pattern is undeniable,” he declared.
The Minority Leader argued that the prosecution of Abronye DC over comments made in a social media video criticizing a Circuit Court judge was unconstitutional and politically motivated.
He stated that criticism of a public official, including a judge, falls within the constitutional protection of free speech under Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution and cannot legitimately form the basis for criminal prosecution.
Afenyo Markin further took issue with the court’s decision to deny bail to Abronye DC, describing the ruling as a constitutional disgrace.
According to him, the prosecution argued that the NPP regional chairman, if granted bail, was likely to commit similar offences, an argument he said effectively amounted to imprisoning a citizen for what he might say in future.
“A citizen imprisoned not for what he did, but for what he might say. That is not the law. That is censorship from the bench,” he stressed.
The Minority Leader also questioned the legality of Abronye DC’s continued detention at the Bureau of National Investigations, stating that, as of the time of his press conference, no signed and certified remand order had allegedly been produced by the court registry.
He argued that without a formal remand order, the detention of Abronye DC could amount to an unlawful deprivation of liberty contrary to Article 14 of the Constitution.
Afenyo Markin warned that Ghana risks sliding back into what he described as a “culture of silence” if state institutions are allowed to intimidate political opponents through arrests and prosecutions.
He linked the current developments to Ghana’s past experience with criminal libel laws, recalling the repeal of the criminal libel and seditious laws in 2001 under the administration of former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
According to him, although the Mahama administration cannot openly restore criminal libel laws, it is attempting to recreate the same atmosphere through the use of Sections 207 and 208 of the Criminal Offences Act.
“The charges against Abronye DC, Baba Amando, David Essandoh and others are, in substance and effect, criminal libel prosecutions. The only difference is the label on the charge sheet,” he said.
He further called on the judiciary to remain independent and resist political pressure, insisting that the courts must serve as guardians of liberty rather than instruments of state power.
“The people of Ghana look to the courts as the last line of defence when the Executive overreaches. That trust is earned by the fearless and impartial application of constitutional principle,” he noted.
Afenyo Markin concluded by demanding the immediate release of Abronye DC and urging civil society organizations, the media, and the legal fraternity to speak out against what he described as growing political persecution in the country.
