Bawa Mogutari is a Special Assistant to John Mahama
A leading member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joyce Bawa Mogutari, has condemned the government’s increased arrests of Ghanaians, especially those who take part in protests.
In a recent social media post, she criticised the government’s treatment of dissent and accused it of suppressing the voices of people who are unhappy with the way the menace of galamsey (illegal mining) is being handled.
Joyce Moghtari said the arrest and detention of the 39 Democracy Hub protesters was an attempt to suppress legitimate grievances rather than addressing the real issues at hand.
She further accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government of “miserably failing” in all aspects of governance.
She pointed to the current economic crisis, rising unemployment and deteriorating infrastructure as evidence that the ruling government has failed to deliver on its promises.
The former deputy transport minister alleged that instead of addressing these important issues, the government had resorted to heavy-handed tactics, including the use of force, to silence critics.
NDC supporters also expressed concern about the state of democracy in Ghana, saying government actions clearly threaten the country’s democratic principles.
The lawyer stressed that Ghanaians have the right to protest and express their opinions, especially in difficult times.
Joyce Moghtari called on the government to focus on rebuilding the economy and improving the lives of ordinary citizens, rather than punishing those who criticise its failures.
“Ghana desperately needs a government that works with its people, not against its people. Ghana needs a government that is not afraid of its people, that will listen to its people and work with the civil society to solve the country’s challenges.”
“These anti-liberal acts by Mr Akufo-Addo and Mr Bawumia should not deter us from exercising our democratic rights, but rather should persuade you to take a harder look at their failures and break with the carefully crafted public relations image they have created.”
“They have failed miserably in almost every sector and instead of listening to the voice of the people, they are hiding behind the police and the courts,” a spokesperson for the John Dramani Mahama 2024 campaign wrote on Facebook.