NPP’s demonstration evidence Ghana’s democracy is alive – Ing. Abeiku Hayford

The recent demonstration organised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was evidence that Ghana’s democracy remains vibrant and that citizens continue to enjoy their constitutional freedoms, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Deputy General Secretary hopeful, Ing. Abeiku Hayford, has said.

Speaking in an interview with Kesmi FM in Tamale, Ing. Hayford said every Ghanaian has a constitutional right to demonstrate and stressed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government respects that right.

He argued that the peaceful organisation of the demonstration, including the provision of police security and the opportunity for protesters to march through the streets and address the media, showed that democratic freedoms were intact.

“The very fact that the NPP was able to organize a demonstration peacefully and freely is itself evidence that democracy in Ghana is alive and functioning,” he said.

Ing. Hayford therefore questioned claims that Ghana’s democracy was under threat, asking: “So the question is: which democracy is under attack?”

According to him, if democracy were genuinely under attack, the demonstrators would not have been able to obtain police protection, exercise their right to assemble, march through public spaces, speak to the media and return home peacefully.

“The facts simply do not support their claim,” he added.

The NDC Deputy General Secretary hopeful said the NPP’s demonstration appeared to him to be less about defending democratic values and more about attempting to regain political relevance.

“I believe the NPP made a mockery of themselves with yesterday’s demonstration. It appeared more like an attempt to regain political relevance than a genuine fight for democracy,” he stated.

Ing. Hayford further urged political actors to focus on issues that directly improve the lives of Ghanaians rather than create political tensions.

He maintained that the Mahama administration remains committed to protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens while ensuring that the laws of Ghana are respected.