The 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) running mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has called on Ghanaians to uphold respect and responsibility in political discussions, cautioning against using democratic freedoms as an excuse for insults and personal attacks.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, August 11, Dr Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, said democracy gives citizens the right to question leaders, political parties and policies, but such freedoms must be exercised without undermining the dignity of others.
He drew a distinction between legitimate criticism and personal insults, noting that criticism focuses on identifying problems and finding ways to improve society, while insults are intended to humiliate, provoke or silence opponents.
“Criticism and insult are not the same. Criticism identifies what is wrong and can help us think about what must improve.
Insult seeks only to humiliate, provoke or silence. One strengthens public debate. The other weakens it,” he said.
NAPO expressed concern about what he described as a growing tendency in Ghanaian political discourse to attack individuals over their intelligence, appearance or background instead of engaging with the substance of their arguments.
He warned that such behaviour could have a negative influence on young people who look to political leaders and public figures as examples of how to participate in democratic processes.
According to him, respecting political opponents does not mean avoiding criticism or shielding public officials from scrutiny.
“Respect has never meant silence. It has never meant that elders, leaders or public officials are beyond criticism,” he stated.
The former Education Minister said criticism was an unavoidable aspect of public service, but political actors and citizens should learn to disagree without portraying those with opposing views as enemies.
He argued that Ghana’s democratic culture would be strengthened when political disagreements centred on policies, ideas and national issues rather than personal attacks.
NAPO further urged citizens to exercise their freedom of expression responsibly while remaining respectful of people who hold different political opinions.
“Democracy requires freedom of expression, but it also requires responsibility of expression,” he added.
