The Member of Parliament for Akyem Swedru in the Eastern Region, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to caution the security services against what he described as the arrest of citizens over their exercise of free speech.
According to the lawmaker, although he does not support the use of insults in political discourse, arresting citizens for expressing their views is not the appropriate response.
Mr Nyarko made the remarks during a three-day public engagement with the youth in his constituency, where he spoke about issues concerning democratic governance and the protection of citizens’ rights.
He said the application of laws relating to speech should be consistent and non-discriminatory, arguing that individuals should not be treated differently based on their political affiliation.
“If the government ought to arrest citizens on free speech, it shouldn’t be done discriminatingly whereby certain people from its party are not arrested on the same offence but people from the other side are only arrested,” he said.
The MP therefore appealed to President Mahama to exercise restraint in matters involving citizens’ expression of political views, warning that the handling of such cases could have implications for the President’s legacy.
Mr Nyarko also cautioned the President to be mindful of what he described as “political hawks” within his own party.
He alleged that some individuals within the political establishment could, through their actions, create unnecessary hostility towards the government and undermine its interests.
He urged President Mahama to carefully consider the advice and actions of such individuals to prevent situations that could generate avoidable tensions and create enemies for the administration.
Mr Nyarko maintained that while political actors should be encouraged to engage in responsible speech, the protection of citizens’ fundamental freedoms should remain an important consideration in the management of political disagreements.
