NDC communicator calls NPP’s ‘Democracy Under Attack’ protest desperate and self-serving

A member of the Volta Regional Communication Team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Japhet Festus Gbede, has criticised the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration, describing it as “desperate and self-serving”.

Gbede made the comments in a post on his official Facebook page on Thursday, 6 August 2026, following the street protest by the former governing party.

The outspoken NDC communicator accused the NPP of attempting to rewrite Ghana’s political history, avoid accountability and create public sympathy where none existed.

He argued that the party could not present itself as a defender of democratic values after what he described as an eight-year period marked by economic mismanagement, severe hardship, rising public debt and a decline in public trust.

Gbede said the NPP’s protest was an effort to use democratic language as a shield at a time when the party was facing legitimate institutional scrutiny.

“The NPP cannot opportunistically weaponize the noble rhetoric of democracy as a political fortress whenever legitimate institutional scrutiny approaches,” Gbede wrote. “True democracy guarantees the rule of law, not political immunity; it ensures equality before the law, not aristocratic privilege for partisan elites.”

He also referred to concerns raised by Ghanaians during the NPP’s period in government over illegal mining, environmental damage, poor fiscal management and allegations of corruption.

According to Gbede, those concerns were repeatedly expressed but received little response from the government at the time.

He said a party that had suffered a decisive defeat at the ballot box could not rebuild public support simply through street demonstrations and what he characterised as staged outrage.

“Ghana belongs to its sovereign citizens, not to political elites who believe that executive power should serve as an everlasting shield against public accountability,” he stated.

Gbede further said the protesters “should be ready for more health walks”, while pointing to government initiatives which he argued showed greater concern for the welfare of citizens.

He specifically mentioned Mahama Care, saying the policy demonstrated genuine attention to the health and wellbeing of Ghanaians alongside the existing national health insurance system.

The NDC communicator’s remarks came in response to the NPP’s “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration, which formed the basis of the former governing party’s public protest.

His criticism focused on the party’s attempt to frame the protest around the defence of democratic principles, with Gbede arguing that democracy must include respect for the rule of law and accountability before the law.

He maintained that political influence should not provide immunity from scrutiny, nor should executive power be used as lasting protection for party leaders and elites.