The New Patriotic Party (NPP) staged a protest on Wednesday, 22 April, in Sunyani to denounce alleged intimidation, harassment, and the suppression of free speech by the ruling government.
Clad in vibrant red
colours, party members in the Bono Region took to the streets wielding placards that expressed their profound disappointment with the current administration.
Organised by the Sunyani East Constituency, the demonstration was dubbed “Yen Suro Ahunahuna”—an Akan phrase translating to “We are not afraid of intimidation.”
Protesters carried signs bearing messages such as “No Freedom”, “No Peace”, “End oppression now, say no to intimidation”, “Stop the culture of silence” and “Democracy under attack.”
The procession eventually marched to the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to formally present a petition to the Regional Minister, Joseph Addai Akwaboa.
Following the presentation, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, the MP for Weija-Gbawe, addressed journalists and explained that the protest served to highlight critical national concerns.
He emphasised that the demonstration was a formal notification to Jubilee House, the regional minister, and other stakeholders to desist from what he described as the “weaponisation of state institutions”.
Mr Shaib further alleged that the police and various security agencies were being used as tools to intimidate ordinary citizens.
Providing further context during an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Maxwell Mahama, the former Sunyani East NPP Communications Officer, explained that the protest was a direct response to the arrest of the current Communications Officer, Abubakar Yakubu—popularly known as Baba Amando—on 12 April, alongside several other party officials.
Mr Mahama argued that the circumstances of these detentions raise serious concerns regarding fundamental human rights, specifically freedom of speech and political expression.
He described the arrests as deeply troubling and called for significantly greater transparency from law enforcement authorities.
He also alleged that security agencies are being manipulated to silence political opponents critical of the government, maintaining that no amount of intimidation would deter the party from holding the administration to account.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
