Accra: President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government have recently come under intense criticism from a section of the public over what they term as the increasing trend of arrests of individuals for comments made on social media. The debate has turned attention on a letter written by President Mahama in 2022, when he was in opposition, in which he strongly condemned what he described as the criminalisation of free speech under the then President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration.
According to Ghana Web, in the letter he posted on his Facebook page and dated February 11, 2022, and addressed to then President Akufo-Addo, Mahama expressed concern about what he described as rising attacks on journalists and the use of state power to silence dissenting voices. He said he was appalled by developments at the time, warning that such actions were dangerous for Ghana's democracy.
Mahama cited multiple arrests and prosecutions of media practitioners and activists, arguing that their actions were being wrongly treated as criminal offences. 'Now, in a space of less than two weeks, four people have suffered police action, criminalizing their right to free speech,' he wrote. Mahama also mentioned cases involving media personalities and activists, including Captain Smart, Oheneba Boamah Bennie, Bobie Ansah, among others, who were arrested or detained over comments made on air or on social media.
He argued that such actions undermined the progress Ghana had made in strengthening free speech and press freedom, warning that continued suppression of speech could damage Ghana's democratic reputation. 'This is a dangerous blueprint you are fashioning for our dear nation and it must not be encouraged. Your actions as President have totally discredited your self-acquired accolade as a human rights lawyer and activist,' he wrote.
Mahama concluded by urging urgent steps to protect free speech, warning that failure to do so would affect the legacy of the then administration on media freedom.