Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has made an impassioned appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and halt what he describes as a wave of intimidation and attacks on former government appointees by security agencies.
Ghana, he said, is a nation of laws and justice and urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to refrain from using state security forces to suppress political opponents.
He called on President Mahama to leave behind a legacy of fairness and justice.
Addressing the media in Parliament last Thursday following the dawn raid of former Bank of Governor Ernest Addison’s home, the Minority leader declared, “Your Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, we know you as a moderate and respected politician. You served your country, had a first term, lost elections, and the Ghanaian people have now entrusted you with a final constitutional mandate.
Legacy of fairness and justice
He urged the President to use his second term to set a positive example for political tolerance and lawful governance.
“Let it be said that even if there were excesses in the exercise of executive power in the past when you had the opportunity, you changed it for good and owned that legacy in your name,” Afenyo-Markin urged.
The Minority Leader condemned the alleged heavy-handed tactics of security forces, warning that such actions risk destabilizing the country and forcing citizens to seek self-protection.
He acknowledged the importance of accountability but stressed that investigations must be conducted within the framework of the law, without infringing on human rights.
“We are tired of the intimidation, the attacks, and the hypocrisy. These acts of terror are relics of the past. They have no place in our democracy,” he lamented.
“Even legitimate inquiries should be done by the law. We are not against accountability, but we are against human rights abuses and the lawless excesses of security operatives,” he stressed.
The Minority leader also cautioned the NDC majority in Parliament against using their numbers and political power to intimidate opponents, reminding them that political landscapes shift.
“Today, they have 187 seats and the presidency. They should not forget that not long ago, we had 169 seats and also controlled the presidency. This vicious cycle of using power to intimidate must cease,” he warned.
He accused security forces led by Richard Jakpa, the Director of Special Operations at the National Security Secretariat, of unlawfully targeting former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
He described the move as ‘terrorizing and traumatizing a respected Ghanaian citizen who has dedicated his life to public service.’
Afenyo-Markin urged President Mahama to protect Ghana’s democracy, uphold the rule of law, and foster an environment of political tolerance and justice as part of his lasting legacy.
By Osumanu Al-Hassan/thenewsbulletin24.com