Former Attorney General Martin Amidu has raised concerns over what he describes as a deliberate erosion of Ghana’s democratic foundations under the leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo, urging citizens to take an active role in ensuring free and fair elections.
Speaking at the University for Development Studies in February, Amidu emphasized the enduring strength of Ghana’s democratic framework, stating, “The 1992 Constitution has been resilient for the past 30 years, and I am optimistic that citizens’ actions will defend it again.”
Amidu accused President Akufo-Addo of exploiting executive power to influence key public institutions, particularly the Electoral Commission (EC). He criticized the appointment of EC members without broad stakeholder input, describing the process as politically motivated. “The entire membership of the EC is one of the public institutions Nana Akufo-Addo… hand-picked with a placid Council of State to facilitate his election-winning long game,” Amidu alleged.
His concerns extend to the EC’s recent decision to limit media accreditation at collation centres and deny election observation accreditation to certain civil society organizations (CSOs) for the first time since 1992. Comparing the situation to a biased system, Amidu remarked, “When did the cockroach ever win a case in a court of fowls?”
Amidu warned that the credibility of the December 7, 2024 elections would be crucial to the future stability of Ghana’s democracy. “The future stability of the 1992 Constitution is dependent on how free, fair, and transparent the 2024 elections are seen to have been managed,” he said, cautioning that failure to uphold electoral integrity could deepen political divisions and erode public trust in democratic institutions.
He also criticized CSOs that he believes have enabled the weakening of constitutional safeguards by endorsing questionable appointments and policies. Referring to the alleged disenfranchisement of residents in the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) areas, Amidu suggested that some organizations had become complicit in undermining democratic processes. “The complicity of the EC in the disenfranchisement of the residents of SALL appears to be one of the considerations for the alienation of Franklin Cudjoe from the diabolical intentions of the President,” he stated.
In his call for collective resistance, Amidu highlighted the importance of domestic and international election observers, unrestricted media access, and proactive citizen engagement. “Let all patriotic Ghanaians and believers in democracy the world over defend the integrity of the 2024 elections,” he urged, stressing that a unified effort is necessary to safeguard Ghana’s democratic future.
