Government urged to tolerate dissent

Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's spokesperson, has urged the government to adopt a more tolerant stance towards dissenting voices, warning that attempts to silence critics could tarnish Ghana's democratic reputation. Aboagye argued that democracy flourishes through the open exchange of ideas and contrasting viewpoints, emphasizing that a political climate where citizens fear articulating their opinions is not truly democratic.

Speaking ahead of the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) "Democracy Under Attack" demonstration in Accra, Aboagye expressed worry about a growing climate of fear among citizens, claiming that critics of the government are becoming increasingly susceptible to intimidation and persecution. He questioned how democracy can function when people are afraid to speak, highlighting that the state's power can easily be exploited to target those perceived as opponents.

While denying any personal experience of such treatment, Aboagye pointed to various instances of what he termed unfair actions by the security and judicial systems against ordinary citizens, particularly in remote areas. He cited the example of a young woman who was remanded into custody under bail conditions she could not meet, suggesting that such occurrences signal a troubling trend within the justice system.

Aboagye alleged that the security agencies have become overly confident in securing favorable outcomes from the courts, suggesting that some believe their cases will proceed without sufficient judicial scrutiny. He cautioned that the security agencies view court appearances as beneficial, believing the courts will only exacerbate matters.

Aboagye criticized the criminalization of insults, stating that imprisoning citizens solely for making disparaging remarks undermines democratic governance and constitutional freedoms. He maintained that while offensive language should not be condoned, the appropriate response should be public education rather than imprisonment.

Aboagye urged institutions like the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to enhance civic education efforts to help citizens distinguish between protected speech, insults, and criminal threats, as well as to clarify the legal boundaries of free expression. He questioned the arrest of individuals for comments made on social media platforms, including TikTok, asserting that many users lack a proper understanding of the legal constraints surrounding online expression.

Aboagye called on the government to prioritize education and engagement over intimidation to discourage public criticism, emphasizing that the responsibility should be to educate citizens on expressing themselves within legal boundaries, not to silence them through fear.