A senior legal practitioner and concerned democrat has raised alarm over what he described as the growing criminalization of free speech and political expression in Ghana, warning that the country’s democratic gains could be endangered if citizens continue to face intimidation over criticism of public officials.
Addressing a press conference, the lawyer stressed that although insults, abusive language, and indecent attacks against leaders should not be encouraged, constitutional democracy cannot operate on selective standards where criticism is tolerated at one point but punished at another.
According to him, democracy is best tested not when governments receive praise, but when they are confronted with criticism, anger, provocation, and dissenting opinions.
He expressed concern over recent arrests, prosecutions, and detentions of political commentators, social media communicators, and activists over alleged offensive or threatening comments, describing the trend as dangerous for constitutional governance.
He maintained that freedom of speech is a constitutional right guaranteed under Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution and emphasized that media freedom is also protected against censorship and interference.
The legal practitioner noted that Ghana repealed the Criminal Libel Law in 2001 to ensure that political criticism, dissent, and public commentary would no longer become criminal offences under democratic rule.
He warned against attempts to indirectly revive criminal libel through intimidation, politically sensitive arrests, and selective prosecutions.
According to him, individuals who believe their reputations have been damaged have access to civil remedies through the courts, adding that democracy thrives through open engagement and lawful rebuttal rather than intimidation.
He also cited various international human rights instruments protecting freedom of opinion and expression, insisting that public officials in democratic societies must tolerate higher levels of criticism because they exercise public power.
The lawyer further cautioned security agencies and state institutions against carrying out unlawful political directives, stressing that officers who violate citizens’ constitutional rights could face future legal consequences.
He urged public officers to remain professional, neutral, and loyal to the Constitution rather than to political authorities.
The senior legal practitioner warned that continued politically charged arrests could create fear among citizens and encourage unnecessary political tension and public unrest.
He therefore called on the Ghana Bar Association, civil society organizations, religious bodies, the media, human rights advocates, and all defenders of democracy to rise and protect constitutional freedoms before fear replaces free expression in the country.
He concluded by stressing that Ghana must never become a nation where political disagreement is treated as a criminal offence, insisting that the answer to offensive speech in a democracy is civic education, lawful rebuttal, and civil legal action — not intimidation and politically motivated arrests.
