The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has thrown its full support behind comments made by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin against a Circuit Court judge handling the case involving the party’s Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe.
The party’s National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, said the NPP fully endorses the remarks made by Mr. Afenyo-Markin during a recent press conference, where he criticised the continued remand of Abronye DC.
Speaking on Ekosii Sen on Asempa FM, Mr. Boakye said the NPP’s petition to the diplomatic community forms part of broader efforts to resist what the party describes as the suppression of democratic freedoms under the current administration.
“The petition to the diplomatic community is part of the steps we are taking to stop the NDC’s suppression of our democracy. We will go to the clergy, chiefs and all stakeholders in our democracy,” he stated.
According to him, although some people may disagree with Abronye DC’s style of communication, that should not warrant criminal prosecution over comments he described as protected free speech.
“You may not like Abronye’s style of communication, but that shouldn’t warrant graduating free speech into an offence,” he argued.
Mr. Boakye also cautioned judges against allowing themselves to be influenced by politicians, insisting that the NPP fully stands by the Minority Leader’s comments.
“We support every word Afenyo-Markin said. If any judge gives way for himself to be used by politicians, those doing that should be careful,” he said.
He further accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of double standards, claiming members of the governing party have made more serious comments in the past without facing arrest or prosecution.
“Don’t compare apples to oranges. How do you compare Abronye saying a judge is apolitical to people saying they want to kill judges?” he questioned.
Mr. Boakye also cited previous criticisms directed at the judiciary by some NDC members, including comments made about former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, to support claims of selective application of the law.
He further referenced allegations made by an NDC communicator against security analyst Adam Bonaa, questioning why no arrests had been made in that matter.
“Is it selective application of the law? What is happening?” he asked.
Meanwhile, Mr. Afenyo-Markin has defended his criticism of the Circuit Court judge, insisting that his comments were ethical and protected under his constitutional rights as a Member of Parliament.
At a press conference on Sunday, May 17, the Minority Leader questioned the judge’s competence over the continued remand of Abronye DC and challenged the judge to cite him for contempt if necessary.
He maintained that he would continue to speak out until, in his words, the judge “upholds the law.”
Source: adomonline.com
