Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, Abena Osei-Asare, has expressed concern over recent arrests, detentions and remand of citizens in connection with statements they have allegedly made or published.
In a statement, the NPP legislator said the developments should concern Ghanaians regardless of their political affiliation, arguing that freedom of speech is a constitutional right rather than a privilege granted by governments.
She said the true test of freedom of expression was whether citizens could criticise those in authority, including through speech that may be offensive, irritating, unfair or strongly critical of government.
Mrs Osei-Asare cited Ghana’s repeal of criminal libel and seditious laws in 2001 under the Kufuor administration, describing the move as an important step in strengthening democratic governance.
She noted that the reform was championed in government by then Attorney-General Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and argued that Ghana should not recreate criminal libel through different statutory provisions.
The MP, however, acknowledged that freedom of expression does not make all conduct lawful.
According to her, incitement to violence, threats and other genuinely criminal conduct must be dealt with under the law, while false and defamatory statements may attract civil consequences.
She stressed the need to distinguish between addressing genuine criminal conduct and using state institutions to punish speech considered offensive or inconvenient.
Mrs Osei-Asare also called on the Police and other security agencies to exercise their powers with restraint and in accordance with the Constitution.
She further urged the courts to ensure that arrest, remand and onerous bail conditions do not effectively become punishment before trial, describing the judiciary as a key safeguard against potential excesses of state power.
The Atiwa East MP said the principles of freedom of expression should apply equally to members of the NPP, NDC and citizens who belong to no political party.
“Governments change. The precedents we create while exercising power remain for those who come after us,” she said.
Mrs Osei-Asare said Ghana had travelled a difficult path away from a culture of silence and cautioned against actions that could reverse that progress.
She maintained that Ghana’s democratic system should be able to accommodate criticism and that state institutions should be strong enough to protect citizens’ right to express such criticism.
