Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has dismissed allegations by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the government is suppressing free speech, describing the claims as ‘bogus’ and an exercise in duplicity.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story programme on Wednesday, the Minister responded to comments made by Henry Nana Boakye (Nana B), the NPP National Organiser, who had accused the government of intimidating opponents following the arrest and prosecution of Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC.
According to Kwakye Ofosu, the NPP has no moral authority to complain about threats to free speech because several journalists, activists, and opposition figures were arrested and prosecuted during the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Also read: We won’t be intimidated, we will defend free speech at all cost – Nana B
Felix Kwakye Ofosu argued it was contradictory for former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia to condemn recent arrests when he remained silent over similar actions under the previous government.
“It is an exercise in duplicity for Dr Bawumia to presume that we are forgetting about those incidents and that today he can express outrage over similar offences,” he stated.
He cited the case involving journalist Kwabena Bobie Ansah, who was arrested after making allegations concerning former First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo. According to the minister, that case remains before the courts.
He stressed that the Abronye DC matter has no connection to the executive branch because the complaint was initiated by a judge who felt insulted by the remarks.
“Abronye did not attack the President or any member of government. He attacked a judge, and the judge is taking legal action against him,” he said.
He argued that attempts to portray the case as a government-led crackdown on free speech were unfounded.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu also recalled the imprisonment of the ‘Muntie Three’ during the administration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo after they made threatening comments about judges.
He noted that many members of the NPP publicly supported those prosecutions at the time.
“If NDC-affiliated individuals and journalists could be imprisoned for attacking judges, why should anyone object when an NPP figure is taken through due process for similar conduct?” he asked.
The Minister insisted that President Mahama and his administration do not believe in arresting people merely for expressing opinions.
He pointed to Ghana’s recent rise in the World Press Freedom Index as evidence that journalists and political critics are able to operate freely.
“Members of the NPP criticise this government every day and nothing happens to them,” he said.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu maintained that while the government does not celebrate prosecutions related to speech, public officials and political actors must be consistent in their defense of constitutional rights.