By Elsie Appiah-Osei
Accra, Sept. 20, GNA – Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, has cautioned against the arrest and prosecution of citizens and political actors over alleged offensive comments, raising concerns about fairness and equal application of the law.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh, who is also the Minority Chief Whip, made his remarks during the grand durbar of the Mampong Ohum/Odwira 2026 festival.
The Government, however, says it supports freedom of speech while maintaining that deliberate violations of the law, including threats against public officials, must be subject to legal action.
Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, stated this at the opening ceremony of the Steering Committee meeting of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) in Accra, where he distinguished between protected expression and unlawful conduct.
A statement issued by the MP and shared with the Ghana News Agency on Sunday quoted him as saying: “Ghana’s democracy thrives on tolerance, fairness, and due process and must not be undermined by partisan application of the law.”
He cautioned those in authority against using state institutions to settle political scores, noting that “power is transient”.
They should consider the long-term implications of such acts, he added.
His comments come amid public discourse over the arrest and prosecution of individuals linked to allegedly offensive, defamatory, or threatening content on social media.
The discourse has intensified following the arrest and remand of Senior Nursing Officer Madam Salomey Awity Baffoe over alleged links to the TikTok account “Ghana Jollof.”
The prosecution states that Madam Baffoe assisted UK-based TikToker Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, popularly known as “Ghana Jollof,” in publishing and circulating false news. Madam Baffoe has, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to Mr Annoh-Dompreh’s statement, the criminal justice system must not be drawn into partisan disputes.
He alleged that similar conduct by supporters of opposing political parties appeared to attract different responses from law enforcement agencies.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu, however, emphasised that the Government had no policy of tolerating the harassment or intimidation of journalists, adding that fair comment on government performance was protected, even when critical.
“What you say can get you into trouble depending on how you have said it. So for instance, if you said that the Minister for Government Communication is ineffective and must be fired tomorrow by President Mahama, it is a fair comment,” he explained.
But, for instance asking that the Minister should be beheaded was criminal and that kind of threat would not tolerated anywhere in the world.
Direct threats against public officials went beyond legitimate criticism and constituted criminal conduct.
“If anybody who meets me on the street should harm me because of the position I hold, that is not free speech; that is a crime,” he added.
The Minister said the enforcement of laws against speech that threatened public safety should not be misconstrued as an attempt to suppress expression.
The meeting, hosted by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), brought together leaders of journalists’ associations across Africa to discuss press freedom, safety, and welfare.
GNA
Edited by Beatrice Asamani Savage