Solomon Owusu of the United Party (UP) has challenged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over what he described as inconsistency on judicial independence and a troubling record on free expression, speaking during an appearance on New Day on TV3.
Owusu directed his opening fire at Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, repeatedly requesting that a 2024 video of the opposition figure be played live on air. He said the footage showed Afenyo-Markin publicly stating that no member of the executive arm of government could influence court decisions, a position Owusu argued sits in direct contradiction to claims now being made by some opposition figures regarding political interference in judicial matters.
He pressed that political leaders must be held accountable to their own words and maintain consistency in public positions over time.
Owusu then broadened his criticism to cover the NPP’s conduct toward media and free expression during its time in government, referencing the incident at UTV involving political commentator Kwame A Plus. He said organised groups were mobilised to enter a live broadcast and physically confront A Plus while he was expressing a personal opinion on air, describing the episode as a clear example of how political tensions had threatened open media discussion in Ghana.
“They should be the last political party to lecture others on these matters,” Owusu said.
He argued that some within the NPP were now presenting themselves as defenders of free speech despite a record that many Ghanaians had not forgotten, citing what he described as a pattern of arrests, intimidation and political pressure under the previous administration.
Owusu called on the party to reflect on that history before positioning itself as a guardian of civil liberties in current political debates.
