Joyce Bawah Mogtari, a leading member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), 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 (illegal mining) menace.  

According to Madam Mogtari, the arrests and detainment of the 39 Democracy Hub protesters were an attempt to suppress legitimate grievances rather than address the real issues at hand.

She further slammed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for what she described as its "miserable failure" in every aspect of governance. 

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

The former Deputy Transport Minister argued that instead of addressing these critical issues, the government had 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 the government’s actions demonstrably threatened the country’s democratic principles. 

The lawyer emphasised that Ghanaians had the right to protest and voice their opinions, especially in challenging times. 

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

“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.

“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.

“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,” the Spokesperson for the John Dramani Mahama 2024 Campaign wrote on Facebook.

As Ghana goes to the polls on December 7, Mr Mahama is the NDC's flagbearer.