John Dramani Mahama, the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has sharply criticized the Akufo-Addo government for suppressing press freedom since it took office.
He argues that under Akufo-Addo’s nearly eight-year tenure, press freedom has significantly declined, with journalists facing intimidation that silences them.
Mahama also condemned the government’s intentional efforts to weaken the independence of critical institutions, such as the Judiciary, the Electoral Commission, and the Audit Service.
He assured Ghanaians that he would collaborate with them and key stakeholders to restore good governance, highlighting his dedication to transparency and accountability.
Speaking at his Good Governance Forum on Thursday, October 31, Mahama stated, “For almost eight years, the government has deliberately and systematically worked to weaken and undermine the independence of the Judiciary, the Electoral Commission, and the Audit Service for their own narrow interests.”
“Our human rights record including press freedom has suffered just as the fight against corruption has. Journalists have been hounded and cowered into silence and self-censorship.
“But I can assure you that there’s hope. The NDC, under my leadership, is ready and willing to work with Ghanaians, our key stakeholders, civil society, our traditional leaders, and our development partners to restore good governance to our beloved country.”
