VIDEO: If Speaking Against NDC Government Is Easy, You Wouldn’t Have Run to the US – Yandoh Fires Back at Okatakyie Afrifa

Ashanti Regional Communications Officer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Kwabena Yandoh, has launched a sharp rebuttal against broadcaster and social commentator Okatakyie Afrifa, following criticisms directed at the NPP over its posture toward the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

Speaking during a media engagement, Mr. Yandoh dismissed claims that the NPP is finding it difficult to criticise the Mahama administration, insisting that those making such arguments lack credibility.

“If speaking against an NDC government is easy, you wouldn’t have run to the United States,” Yandoh fired, in a direct jab at Okatakyie Afrifa.

According to him, history has shown that individuals who openly criticise NDC governments often face intimidation and pressure, making claims of “easy criticism” unrealistic and dishonest.

Mr. Yandoh argued that the NPP has consistently played its role as a responsible opposition by engaging constructively on national issues rather than resorting to reckless commentary.

“We are not silent because we are afraid. We are deliberate, responsible, and strategic in our engagement. Governance is not about noise-making,” he said.

He accused Okatakyie Afrifa of oversimplifying Ghana’s political climate and ignoring past instances where journalists and commentators allegedly faced threats, harassment, or exile for their views.

“The record is clear. People didn’t just leave the country for tourism. They left because the space became uncomfortable,” Yandoh added.

He further cautioned media commentators against inciting public distrust through what he described as “selective memory and political mischief,” urging them to be honest in assessing Ghana’s political history.

The comments come amid ongoing political debates over the NPP’s approach to opposition politics following its loss in the 2024 general elections and growing public discourse on freedom of expression under the Mahama administration.

Yandoh reaffirmed the NPP’s commitment to defending democratic principles and holding the government accountable through lawful and responsible means.

“We will speak when necessary, and when we do, it will be based on facts—not propaganda,” he concluded.