The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has lambasted the John Mahama administration for what it describes as the weaponisation of state security and the judiciary against political opponents.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, NPP General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua expressed alarm over the detention of several party affiliates beyond constitutional limits, including Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi), Abdul Wahab Hanan (former buffer stock CEO), Gifty Oware-Mensah, and Osei Assibey—former Deputy and Director-General of the National Service Authority, respectively—whom he accused the government of subjecting to a “RAMBO-style” arrest and persecution.
He highlighted that Article 14 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution mandates that arrested or detained persons must be brought to court within 48 hours or released on reasonable conditions, with bail entitlement irrespective of the offence if trial is delayed.
He cited Section 96 of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), alongside Supreme Court precedents, while underscoring the presumption of innocence in Article 19(2)(c).
“Under President John Mahama’s administration, a person is rather presumed guilty until the person proves his or her innocence,” Kodua fumed.
“This is a shame to our democracy,” he added.
Highlighting various press conferences and demonstrations organised by the party on the subject, the General Secretary underscored that the NPP “shall not back down” in fighting the injustice.
Heightening concerns, Kodua pointed to what he described as the “unlawful removal” of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo by President Mahama in September, alleging that this has fostered fear among judges, eroding judicial independence and enabling bias against opposition figures.
Citing examples, Kodua decried a recent court order setting bail at GH¢800 million for Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, noting that the amount is more than double the reported construction cost of Ghana’s presidential seat, the Jubilee House.
“How can a judge, in the face of the law and the constitutional principle of presumption of innocence, set bail conditions to the tune of GH¢800 million—which is even more than double the amount stated in the construction of Jubilee House? This is indeed very ridiculous,” he said.
“Doesn’t this effectively amount to denial of bail, which the law speaks against?” he questioned.
He accused the administration of turning Ghana into a nation where judges “fear to dispense justice according to the law” prevails among the bench, lest they suffer Torkornoo’s fate.
The party reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law, warning that such trends threaten Ghana’s democracy.