Accra: Ellen Ama Daaku, a communicator for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has openly criticized what she perceives as an increasing trend of arrests tied to social media activities under the current government. She argued that expressing opinions online should not automatically lead to detention.
According to Ghana Web, Daaku highlighted the recent arrest of an NPP constituency organizer following a Facebook post declaring that "dumsor is back." She noted that the individual had already agreed to meet with the Criminal Investigations Department, accompanied by a lawyer, before being taken into custody.
"He did not refuse to go. He was invited and asked to appear the next day with his lawyer," Daaku explained during a segment on GTV's Breakfast Show, as reported by MyNewsGh. She expressed confusion over why the arrest was executed prior to the scheduled meeting, causing distress to the family and party executives who spent the night searching for him.
This incident has sparked discussion following former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia's accusations against the NDC government for allegedly intimidating opposition supporters and undermining democratic freedoms. Daaku emphasized the importance of political parties being tolerant of criticism and differing opinions expressed online.
"Somebody writing something on Facebook that you disagree with does not mean the person should be arrested," she asserted, calling for restraint from both political figures and security forces. Daaku concluded by stressing the transient nature of governments and the necessity for mutual respect among citizens.