The Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has urged strict respect for the rule of law and fundamental human rights, warning that Ghana’s democracy risks being weakened if state power is used to intimidate political opponents.
He said democratic progress depends on fairness in the application of justice, regardless of which political party is in power, stressing that governments must avoid selective enforcement of the law.
According to him, Ghana must not develop a political culture where actions are condemned or justified solely based on who is in authority at the time.
“We should never put ourselves in a position where we see wrong to be right when we are in government, and we see right to be wrong when we are in opposition,” he stated.
Speaking to journalists, Mr Jinapor cautioned against the use of criminal processes in matters that he said should ordinarily be handled through civil legal channels, particularly in defamation-related disputes.
He argued that in cases involving alleged damage to reputation, the appropriate remedy should be civil litigation rather than arrest or detention.
“If someone feels defamed, the appropriate action is to go to court… I’m not to be dragged by the criminal justice system and thrown into jail,” he said.
Mr Jinapor further criticised what he described as punitive bail conditions and politically motivated arrests, warning that such practices risk undermining public confidence in the justice system.
He also cautioned against a cycle of political retaliation after changes in government, urging leaders to protect democratic gains by ensuring equal treatment under the law.
Ghana, he noted, has made significant progress in democratic governance and must guard against actions that could erode those achievements.
