Mahama gov’t has arrested more people over free speech in 18 months than Akufo-Addo did in 8 years – Kpebu

Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has criticised what he describes as the increasing arrest of individuals over comments deemed insulting or offensive to public officials, claiming the Mahama administration has recorded more such arrests in its first 18 months than the previous Akufo-Addo government did in eight years.

He described the situation as a poor record for President John Dramani Mahama and urged the government to reconsider the use of arrests in dealing with offensive public commentary.

Mr Kpebu argued that Ghana’s democratic history was replete with instances where politicians and other public figures made harsh or offensive remarks about those in power without facing arrest.