Journalist and New Patriotic Party (NPP) communication director aspirant Gordon Asare-Bediako has accused the John Mahama government of intimidation and politically motivated arrests targeting opposition figures, amid rising political tensions over recent detentions.
Speaking on AsaasePa 107.3 FM’s “Atumpan” programme on Friday (15 May), Asare-Bediako criticised what he described as “Rambo-style arrests” and a growing clampdown on dissent under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
“It’s scary… Rambo-style arrests grabbing opposition voices. What do you want to gain? It doesn’t make sense,” he said.
“President Mahama is behaving like a tyrant… Ghana has not been gifted to him. He is not a known quantity,” he added.
He further claimed that civil society organisations, clergy and other public voices who were previously vocal had become silent.
“If it were Akufo-Addo’s era, we would hear people, CSOs, the clergy roaring and condemning him. They are now silent because they have been muzzled,” he said.
Asare-Bediako also praised the leadership of the opposition New Patriotic Party while distancing the party from what he called “unguarded statements” by some members. He described the situation as “a clear case of intimidation and state-sponsored harassment,” insisting that critics would not be silenced.
“I thank the NPP leadership for the unwavering support. That doesn’t mean the party supports unguarded statements from its members,” Asare-Bediako stated.
“But we are not scared, they can’t suppress us,” he further said.
The comments come amid heightened political debate over recent arrests of opposition-linked figures, including former NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, known as Abronye DC, who has been detained in connection with ongoing investigations.
Local media have also reported that political commentator Baba Amando is among others who have come under police attention, though authorities have not publicly detailed all cases.
The government has previously maintained that arrests and investigations are conducted under due process and are not politically motivated.
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