The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is facing growing criticism following its decision to organise a nationwide demonstration on August 6, 2026, in response to the Court of Appeal’s ruling that acquitted and discharged former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu.
The planned protest, announced by the party’s National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, has generated widespread public debate, with critics questioning the party’s decision to take to the streets over a judicial decision delivered by the Court of Appeal.
Addressing a press conference, Nana B accused the government of undermining Ghana’s democracy and the rule of law, alleging that the Attorney-General failed to vigorously defend the state’s case during the appeal proceedings. According to him, the NPP, together with other political parties, civil society organisations, professional bodies, youth movements and concerned citizens, will embark on a nationwide demonstration beginning in Accra before extending to other regions.
“The time for silence is over. The NPP serves notice that on August 6, 2026, we shall embark on a massive demonstration to defend our democracy, our Constitution and the rule of law,” he stated.
However, the announcement has attracted criticism from some political observers and members of the public, who argue that court decisions should be respected and challenged through established legal processes where necessary, rather than becoming the subject of political demonstrations. Others contend that peaceful protest is itself a democratic right and that political parties are entitled to express concerns about matters of public interest.
The controversy follows the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit and discharge Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, overturning an earlier High Court judgment that had sentenced her to 10 years’ imprisonment.
In April 2024, the High Court convicted the former MASLOC Chief Executive after a trial that began in January 2019. She had faced 78 charges, including stealing, conspiracy to steal, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, causing loss to public property, improper payment of public funds, unauthorised commitment and money laundering.
The prosecution, led at the time by then Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame and supported by investigations conducted by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), alleged that Tamakloe-Attionu misappropriated public funds through various MASLOC programmes. Among the allegations was the alleged diversion of a GH¢500,000 loan intended for Obaatanpa Microfinance after the institution reportedly declined the facility because of its interest rate.
The NPP insists that the Court of Appeal’s decision and the state’s handling of the appeal raise serious concerns about the government’s commitment to fighting corruption and protecting democratic institutions. The party maintains that the August 6 demonstration is intended to draw national attention to what it describes as threats to democratic accountability and institutional independence.
As the protest date approaches, political analysts expect the development to intensify public discourse on the balance between judicial independence, the right to peaceful protest and the fight against corruption in Ghana.
