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James Kwabena Bomfeh, a former Acting General Secretary of the Convention People's Party (CPP), has lashed out at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over their petition to the Commonwealth Nations to investigate what they term as violations of human rights under President Nana Akufo-Addo's regime.

The NDC has appealed to the Commonwealth Nations to monitor the human rights situation in Ghana and what they believe is the criminal persecution of its members.

The General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Aseidu Nketia announced the petition at a press conference in Accra on Monday, February 28, 2022.

He stated the petition was necessitated by the "harassment, criminal persecution and human rights violations" against some NDC leading members including their National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo.

"There are some practices that are not in accordance with good governance and the principles of the Commonwealth so we have petitioned them to take the appropriate action," he said.

Background

Mr. Asiedu Nketia cited some cases that are currently prosecuted in court which they find to be persecution and harrassment of their members by the current administration.

Citing the case of the Republic v Stephen Kwabena Opuni and two others, the NDC General Secretary stated that the Judge, Justice Clemence Honyenuga, hearing the case, made some pronouncements which "in any fair legal system would warrant his recusal from the case on the ground of real likelihood or appearance of bias".

He also made reference to the case involving the Republic vrs Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and Anthony Kwaku Boahen and the Republic Vrs Cassiel Ato Forson among others as examples of the criminal persecution of NDC members saying ''the conduct of the government of Ghana in this matter has been dreadful leaving no doubt the government is bent on a conviction regardless of the quality of the evidence".

"This is a brazen abuse of power by the government," Mr Nketia added.

Regime Change

Addressing the issue during a panel discussion on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', James Kwabena Bomfeh, popularly called Kabila, was of a firm belief that the NDC petition is all about one thing; that's to change the current regime.

Other than seeking a regime change, he sees nothing tangibly right in petitioning the Commonwealth Nations if not for the purposes of deception, he noted.

"Much of the talk is about regime change and nothing more", he asserted, emphasizing '' . . we live deception. We live deceitful lives. The theatre and theatricals are too many. That is our problem. The insincerity with which we discuss our problems in Ghana".

In relation to the human rights violation claims raised by the NDC, Kabilla rhetorically asked; ''Is it indeed true there is insecurity in Ghana? People cannot speak?"

''You cannot always be right just as you won't always be wrong," he replied the NDC.

He however called on President Akufo-Addo and his Ministers handling the security of Ghana to sit up.

"I will call on the President, the National Security Minister, Defence Minister; you should be on your toes . . . Look at who is policing the Police and how they are doing their work."