Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, the Director of Legal Affairs for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has asserted that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cannot dissociate the executive branch of government from the discussions surrounding the arrest and prosecution of the Democracy Hub protesters.
Edudzi pointed out that the Attorney-General, an appointee and chief legal advisor to the president, is the one currently prosecuting these protesters in court. He accused President Akufo-Addo of dishonesty regarding his statements on the matter.
He criticized the president’s level of dishonesty as “terrible,” stating, “He ignores local media and prefers interviews with international outlets, as there is no opportunity for fact-checking him.”
“The individual prosecuting these protesters in court is an appointee of Akufo-Addo, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), who ordered their arrest, was also appointed by him,” Edudzi said during an appearance on TV3’s Nig Ossue on October 7.
These remarks come in response to President Akufo-Addo’s claims that the executive branch had no influence over the arrests and detentions of the Democracy Hub protesters. The president attributed the actions against the protesters to their conduct during the demonstrations.
As a political figure with a history of participating in protests, President Akufo-Addo stated, “How can a president, whose political career was bolstered by leading protests, have issues with protests? I have no problem with protests.” He emphasized that the government does not suppress citizens’ rights to express their views.
“The courts in Ghana are independent institutions, and nothing is done to prevent people from airing their views,” he added.
“The courts in Ghana are independent institutions and they have been all through this fourth republic.
“People misconduct themselves and they are brought before the court, it is for the court to deal with them…it has nothing to do with the Executive.“Their behaviour is what lands them in problem with the police and the court, it is not the protest,” he added.
