The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has petitioned members of the diplomatic community, alleging what it described as growing state-sponsored political persecution and an erosion of democratic freedoms under President John Mahama’s administration.

In a petition dated 19 May and signed by NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong and Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the party accused the government of using state institutions to intimidate political opponents, suppress dissent and criminalize criticism.

“We write … to formally draw the urgent attention of the international diplomatic community to the growing and deeply troubling assault on democratic governance, constitutional liberties, political pluralism, and the rule of law,” the petition said.

The NPP said Ghana’s democratic reputation, built over decades through peaceful transitions of power and protection of civil liberties, was facing serious threats.

The opposition party alleged that security agencies, prosecutorial authorities and elements within the judicial system were being used to target critics of the government through what it called arbitrary arrests, selective prosecutions and politically motivated detentions.

The party cited the arrest and detention of its Bono Regional Chairman Kwame Baffoe, widely known as Abronye DC, as an example of what it described as the criminalization of dissent.

Abronye DC was arrested and put before Circuit Court 9 on charges including offensive conduct conducive to breach of peace and publication of false news after comments he allegedly made about judicial matters.

The NPP argued that criticism of public officials, including members of the judiciary, should not be treated as a criminal offence in a constitutional democracy.

The petition also named several individuals the party said had been subjected to arrest, intimidation or prosecution, including opposition figures, political communicators and social media commentators.

The party further alleged abuse of state security agencies, claiming institutions such as the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the police were increasingly being used for partisan purposes.

It also expressed concern over what it described as growing public perceptions regarding judicial independence and questioned decisions in politically sensitive cases.

The NPP called on diplomats, development partners and international human rights organizations to monitor developments in Ghana, publicly reaffirm democratic principles and engage the government over what it described as the misuse of criminal prosecutions against opposition voices.

The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and government officials had not immediately responded to the allegations at the time of publication.