The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has urged members of the opposition to remain resolute in defending democratic freedoms, despite what he described as attempts by the government to intimidate political opponents.
Speaking at the launch of the book Echoes from the Doyen J.B Danquah to Ghana and Africa, Mr Afenyo-Markin said the tradition of courage and resistance associated with J. B. Danquah should inspire political actors to stand firm in protecting liberty and democratic values.
He argued that the government had increasingly relied on the arrest of former appointees as a way to shift attention from challenges within its administration.
According to the Minority Leader, the opposition must not be discouraged by what he described as the subtle use of state power to silence dissenting voices.
Mr Afenyo-Markin referenced the historical struggle against the Preventive Detention Act, noting that Dr Danquah’s resistance to the law demonstrated the importance of standing up for civil liberties even in difficult times.
“If Dr J.B Danquah could stand alone in the face of the Preventive Detention Act, we who inherit his political and moral legacy cannot afford timidity,” he said.
He emphasised that the defence of liberty required courage and determination, urging political leaders and citizens alike to speak out when necessary to safeguard Ghana’s democracy.
