The chairman of the NPP Communications Committee, Nana Akomea, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to act quickly to stop the present administration’s “creeping culture of silence.”
Speaking on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, on the famous Kokrokoo program of Peace FM in Accra, Nana Akomea made the case that, in democratic countries, communication that allegedly harms reputations should be subject to civil rather than criminal remedies, particularly in light of Ghana’s repeal of the criminal libel legislation.
While some colonial-era sedition statutes may still be grounds for criminal prosecution, he contends that these laws should only be used in dire circumstances where speech endangers national or personal security or poses a serious threat to the state.
Many of the recent arrests of opposition activists and commentators, he insisted, do not qualify as sedition.
Nana Akomea mentioned a number of instances, such as the detention of Rita Batse, who allegedly voiced worries about the abandonment of a Hohoe industrial project and criticised the actions of local government representatives.
He also brought up the instance of David Essandoh, who was purportedly detained after posting a picture of President Mahama on Facebook.
He also cited other cases, such as Alfred Kumi, who petitioned President Mahama about the behaviour of Justice Torkonoo investigative committee members; Ntim Fordjour, who voiced concerns about two aircraft at the airport; and Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, who allegedly discussed alleged extortion in scholarship awards.
He also brought up Wilberforce, an Asaase Radio journalist who was purportedly questioned about reporting on MIIF operations.
None of these remarks or acts should be prosecuted under sedition-related legislation, according to Nana Akomea.
Additionally, he attacked the way certain arrests have been made, calling them threatening and harsh.
Despite the fact that the people involved were not violent offenders, he asserted that a number of arrests entailed dawn raids on houses, the use of heavily armed and masked security agents, and the rejection of bail.
Nana Akomea went on to say that certain NDC employees and members have made equally harmful remarks in public without receiving the same consequences.
He gave examples, such as Zita Okaikoi, who he claimed blamed the NPP for a helicopter disaster that killed government personnel.
Additionally, he cited remarks reportedly made by Joseph Azumah and Kojo Adu Asare about extortion connected to secondary school admissions.
He also brought up Anita De-Soso, who supposedly claimed that appointments were being sold during President Mahama’s administration, and Fiifi Kwetey, who allegedly claimed that government officials were forging deals with corrupt individuals in order to evade prosecution.
According to Nana Akomea, these events give the appearance of selective justice and discrimination.
He voiced worry that more than 16 NPP members had allegedly been detained for political speech and public criticism in less than a year of President Mahama’s government.
Therefore, he called on President Mahama to step in and guarantee the protection of democratic liberties in Ghana, especially the right to free speech.
Source: newsthemegh.com