NPP suspends ‘Thank You’ tour to join protest

Leaders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have announced that they will suspend the party’s ongoing national “thank you” tour led by the NPP’s 2024 presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to concentrate fully on the Monday 5 May demonstration by the coalition of opposition political parties dubbed the “Save the Judiciary Demo”.

The demonstration is in response to President John Mahama’s controversial decision to suspend Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, which the opposition parties have described as a direct assault on the independence of the third arm of government.

The NPP kicked off a nationwide “thank you” tour on Wednesday 23 April, setting off from the party’s headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra. The tour had been delayed to avoid clashing with the Michael Oquaye Committee’s nationwide review of the party’s electoral performance in Election 2024.

National exercise
Speaking in an interview on Asaase radio, Henry Nana Boakye (Nana B), the national organiser of the NPP, said that the 5 May demonstration will be a national assignment, involving five national political parties.

As such, he said, the entire NPP party machinery must join forces to send the strongest message to the ruling Mahama government to stop interfering with the independence of Ghana’s judiciary.

“The party intends to suspend the tour so that all of us can be part of this important national exercise,” Nana B said. “This is bigger than party lines – we are fighting for Ghanaians and the future of our democratic institutions.”

The planned demonstration, led by the coalition of five parties, including the NPP, is expected to draw thousands of participants from across the country. It is aimed at resisting what the parties view as the Mahama administration’s unconstitutional interference in the affairs of the judiciary.

Organisers say the protest will serve as a national call to defend the separation of powers and preserve the sanctity of Ghana’s democratic framework.

“It is refreshing to note that the Minority in Parliament has also declared its support for the coalition’s demonstration,” Nana Boakye said. “The Minority Leader has expressed a strong commitment to the cause, and we believe this united front sends a clear message.”