Gender activist and member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Team, Shamima Muslim, has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of riding on the back of promises of reforms only to neglect them once in power.

Speaking on JoyNews' NewsFile programme, she strongly criticised the opposition party for their failure to follow through on reform agendas after taking control of the government in the last years.

“The NPP talks a lot when they’re in opposition, pushing for reforms and change,” she stated. “But when they assume control, those reforms never materialise. There’s a significant gap between what they say and what they do.”

Reflecting on her experience covering the 2009 vetting process, following the NDC’s electoral victory, she recalled how figures like the former Energy Minister Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh and Joe Osei-Wusu were given significant freedom to express their views under the then Speaker of Parliament.

She claimed that Joe Osei-Wusu himself acknowledged the considerable freedom he had to speak, which fostered an open and inclusive environment for discussion. In contrast, she argued that the current NPP leadership curtails such freedoms, stifling open debate.

“Under the NDC, there was always more room for free discussions,” she said. “But when the NPP is in power, the atmosphere changes completely. They restrict debate and try to control the flow of ideas.”

She also pointed to Joe Wise’s time as chair of a parliamentary committee, where she observed a dismissive attitude toward younger members such as Suhini. “It was obvious, it was palpable,” she said. “The dismissive tone he used was clear to everyone. It was a stark contrast to the NDC’s approach, which encourages respectful and open dialogue, regardless of age or experience.”

Shamima Muslim concluded by reiterating her concerns about the NPP’s approach to reforms. While the party is quick to promise change when they are not in power, they fail to act on these promises once they gain control.

“The NPP preaches about change when they are in opposition, but when they have power, they fail to deliver on the very reforms they promised,” she said, highlighting the disconnect between the party’s rhetoric and their actions.