Mahdi Jibril, Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has rejected allegations by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the government is harassing its communicators, describing the claims as baseless and politically motivated.
Speaking in response to a recent press conference held by the NPP, via zoom meeting on Kessben TV’s Digest, Jibril said it is not unusual for political parties to address the media but insisted that the opposition’s claims lack merit.
“It is not surprising for a political party to hold a press conference,” he said, adding that the NPP’s assertions of intimidation are unfounded.
Jibril questioned the logic behind the NPP’s accusations, arguing that if the government intended to divert public attention or suppress opposition voices, it would have targeted top party officials instead.
“If the government wanted to divert attention, would it have arrested NPP serial callers? We would have arrested people like Justin Kodua himself or someone like Alexander Afenyo-Markin,” he stated.
He further alleged that the NPP is amplifying the issue for internal political gain, suggesting that Mr. Kodua’s position as General Secretary and his re-election ambitions may be influencing the party’s posture.
“The NPP is only making noise because Kodua is vying for re-election and assumes their delegates would consider him by doing so,” Jibril claimed.
The NDC official also dismissed suggestions that recent police actions were politically driven, emphasizing that individuals who cooperated with police invitations were not detained.
“They know those who responded or cooperated with police invitations were not arrested,” he noted, urging the NPP to seek redress through appropriate legal channels if they believe their rights have been violated.
Jibril further called on the NPP to focus on substantive national issues rather than what he described as theatrics.
“The NPP should move away from jokes and concerts and come to reality,” he said.
Touching on other national matters, he clarified that discussions around the controversial LGBTQ+ bill remain premature, noting that it has not yet been passed by Parliament for presidential assent.
He also referenced the government’s ongoing “ORAL” process, describing it as a structured initiative rather than a politically motivated exercise.
Jibril concluded by reiterating that the NDC remains committed to lawful processes and urged the opposition to engage constructively with state institutions, particularly the police, if they have concerns.
