A leading member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joyce Bawah Mogtari has called out the government for its increasing arrests of Ghanaians, particularly those involved in protests. 

In a recent post on social media, she criticised the government’s handling of dissent, accusing it of stifling the voices of citizens who are expressing their frustrations against its handling of the galamsey menace. 

“Ghana desperately needs a government that works for and with the people, not against it. Ghana needs a government that is not scared of the people’s voice but will listen to it and work with civil society to solve our nation’s challenges.” 

According to her, the arrests and detainment of the Democracy Hub protesters are an attempt to suppress legitimate grievances rather than address the real issues at hand.

Mrs Mogtari further slammed the government for what she described as its "miserable failure" in every aspect of governance. 

“They have failed miserably in almost every arena, and rather than listen to the voice of the people, they hide behind the police and the courts,” she posted. 

She pointed to the current economic crisis, rising unemployment, and deteriorating infrastructure as evidence that the ruling administration has failed to deliver on its promises. 

The former Deputy Minister argued that instead of addressing these critical issues, the government has resorted to heavy-handed tactics, including the use of force to silence critics.

The NDC stalwart also expressed concern about the state of democracy in Ghana, stating that the government’s actions threaten the country’s democratic principles. 

She emphasised that Ghanaians have the right to protest and voice their opinions, especially in challenging times. 

Mrs Mogtari urged the government to focus on fixing the economy and improving the lives of ordinary citizens rather than punishing those who speak out against its failures.

“Rather than stop us from exercising our democratic rights, these anti-freedom actions by Akufo-Addo and Bawumia should convince you to look harder at their failures and break through the carefully curated public relations visage they have created.”