‘Don’t weaponise the law against citizens’ – Miracles Aboagye

Dennis Miracles Aboagye, a hopeful National Communications Officer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has issued a warning to the government against weaponizing the law against ordinary citizens. This caution comes after a segment on JoyNews’ Newsfile on August 8. Aboagye argued that the government should not resort to arrests and prosecutions as a means of civic education, especially when addressing citizens who might not fully grasp the limits of their right to free speech.

According to Aboagye, the government should instead engage institutions like the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to educate people on the boundaries of free speech. He emphasized that citizens should be informed about the acceptable limits of expression and encouraged to express themselves responsibly. He firmly rejected the notion that Ghana's democracy is under threat due to citizens' ability to organize and engage in protests.

Aboagye maintained that while protests are a legitimate part of democracy, they do not automatically signify respect for all democratic principles.

He criticized the practice of selectively applying democratic rights and laws, stating that such actions are hypocritical. Aboagye argued that democratic rights should be upheld consistently, regardless of which political party holds power. He urged for a shift in the debate, moving away from political affiliations towards the protection of citizens, freedom of expression, the right to protest, and a fair application of the law.