Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has urged officers of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to exercise restraint in dealing with political actors and citizens arrested or prosecuted over comments made on social media and other public platforms.
Ghana’s democratic development, he said, depends on tolerance, fairness and respect for due process.
He cautioned political leaders and those in positions of authority to remember that political power is temporary, urging them to consider the long-term consequences of actions taken against opponents and citizens over political commentary.
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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri was speaking at the Mampong Ohum/Odwira 2026 celebration amid a broader national debate over arrests and prosecutions involving allegedly offensive, defamatory or threatening comments directed at political figures
“Power is transient,” he said, stressing the need for political actors to avoid actions that could undermine public confidence in Ghana’s democratic institutions.
The Whip argued that Ghana must guard against a situation where the criminal justice system becomes drawn into partisan political disputes, particularly where members of the public perceive that similar conduct is treated differently depending on political affiliation.
He acknowledged that political discourse has increasingly shifted to social media, giving citizens, especially young people, platforms to express their views about political leaders, public officials and their families.
While calling for responsible communication, the Minority Chief Whip said the right to criticise public officials remains an important part of democratic participation.
He also appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders and other influential members of society to help promote responsible political communication and discourage insults, threats and inflammatory rhetoric.
According to Annoh-Dompreh, political actors and citizens alike must exercise responsibility when engaging in public debate, particularly on digital platforms where comments can spread rapidly and reach large audiences.
The MP’s intervention adds to an ongoing national discussion over the boundary between legitimate political criticism, offensive expression and speech that may constitute a criminal offence under Ghanaian law.
He maintained that Ghana’s democratic institutions must uphold fairness, due process and the equal application of the law, irrespective of political affiliation.
The call comes as political parties, civil society groups and members of the public continue to debate how the country can protect freedom of expression while also enforcing laws against unlawful speech.
For Mr Annoh-Dompreh, the handling of political speech must not only address the conduct in question but also preserve public confidence in the impartiality of Ghana’s justice system.