Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Chief Executive Officer of the Atta Mills Institute, Samuel Koku Anyidoho, has called on Ghanaians to put the nation’s interest above partisan politics, urging the government to focus on fulfilling its campaign promises before introducing new flagship programmes.

Speaking in an interview on ICADTV’s Ghana Nti Morning Show, Anyidoho said the NDC government had promised to support and protect commercial motorcycle (Okada) riders by providing them with proper training, road safety education, and a clear regulatory framework.

He also noted that the government had pledged to abolish the double-track system in Senior High Schools, but said that promise is yet to be fulfilled.

According to him, the government should prioritise completing its Agenda 111 projects before fully embarking on the Big Push initiative, arguing that finishing ongoing projects would prevent waste of public funds and maximise value for the country.

“We must stop putting political parties ahead of Ghana. Both the NDC and the NPP have introduced good policies, but the country must always come first,” he said, adding that many Ghanaians continue to complain about economic hardships and the lack of money in circulation.

Touching on his own experience with law enforcement, Anyidoho revealed that he was once detained for 48 hours before being released because investigators found no evidence against him. However, he rejected claims that he was tortured during his detention.

“I cannot lie that former President Nana Akufo-Addo or COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah tortured me. That never happened,” he stated.

Anyidoho also questioned the government’s handling of arrests involving social media personalities, particularly TikTokers. He recalled that while the NDC was in opposition under President John Dramani Mahama, the party defended freedom of expression and even supported an individual who had repeatedly criticised the then-government, assisting him in court until his case was dismissed.

According to him, the actions of some TikTokers today mirror the behaviour of individuals who were defended by political actors in the past, raising concerns about consistency in the protection of free speech.