The New Patriotic Party has criticised the Presidency’s decision to assign Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Akyenpim Jantuah to receive the party’s petition during its “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration, describing the move as a sign that the government did not attach sufficient importance to the concerns raised by the opposition party.
The NPP Deputy General Secretary, Haruna Mohammed, argued that given the presence of the party’s senior leadership at the demonstration, including the Minority Leader, the General Secretary, Members of Parliament and other high ranking officials, the Presidency should have designated a more senior government representative to formally receive the petition on behalf of President John Mahama.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Thursday, August 6, after the demonstration, Mr Mohammed said the party’s concerns centred on what it described as politically motivated prosecutions, selective enforcement of justice and breaches of due process within Ghana’s governance system.
“Our reservation comes from the fact that the government has not taken the people of Ghana seriously,” he stated, adding that the issues raised by the party represent serious threats to the country’s democratic institutions and therefore required a more significant response from the Presidency.
According to him, the demonstration represented the collective position of the NPP leadership and its supporters, arguing that the presence of the party’s top officials warranted a higher level of engagement from government.
“This is the entire party machinery appearing before the Presidency, and the Presidency ought to have respected the leadership of the party,” Mr Mohammed said.
He maintained that assigning Nana Yaa Jantuah to receive the petition failed to reflect the seriousness of the matters raised by the opposition party and created the perception that government was unwilling to engage meaningfully with opposition concerns.
“It was very disrespectful. There was no seriousness attached to it, and that is what we observed,” he added.
However, Nana Yaa Akyenpim Jantuah rejected criticisms surrounding her role in receiving the petition, insisting that she is a senior government official with the responsibility and authority to ensure that the concerns raised by the NPP are delivered directly to President John Mahama.
Speaking after accepting the petition on behalf of the Presidency at Jubilee House, she assured the demonstrators that the document would be presented to the President for his attention.
“I thank the group for bringing this petition, and I do assure you that it is going to get to the President,” she said.
Nana Yaa Jantuah also dismissed comments attributed to Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo Markin, who reportedly described her as “a nobody” during the presentation, insisting that her position within government qualifies her to represent the Presidency on such occasions.
“I’m happy that the Honourable Minority Leader is saying that I am a nobody. But I want to assure you that I’m a senior member of government, and this petition will directly get to the President,” she stated.
She further described the presentation of the petition as evidence that Ghana’s democratic system remains active, noting that the opposition party was allowed to organise a public demonstration, march to the seat of government and formally submit its grievances.
“This is democracy at hand. If the NPP today has been able to come to the Flagstaff House to present their petition, then democracy is at work,” she said.
The Presidential Staffer also reminded the opposition party and the wider public that Ghana’s democratic processes operate within established legal frameworks, urging all citizens to respect the laws governing the country.
“They should also remember that in this country, there are laws. There are laws that are put together to help us regulate our lives and our being,” she added.
The “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration was organised by the NPP to present petitions to the Presidency and the other arms of government over concerns the party says relate to governance, accountability, justice and the protection of Ghana’s democratic institutions.
The protest also coincided with national remembrance activities for the eight Ghanaians who lost their lives in a helicopter crash, with Nana Yaa Jantuah urging the public to reflect on the significance of the day while engaging in democratic expression.
