Government must not burst the bubble of democratic freedoms – Miracles Aboagye

Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aspiring National Communications Officer for the New Patriotic Party, has warned the government against actions that could jeopardize democratic freedoms, specifically the right of citizens to freely express their opinions. In an interview with JoyNews' Newsfile, Mr. Aboagye emphasized that one of the key protections of democracy is the ability of citizens to protest, criticize those in power, and demand accountability without fear of repercussions.

Speaking about the recent "Democracy Under Attack" demonstration, Mr. Aboagye likened protests to a crucial tool that can help governments escape the "bubble" created by their political power. He explained that demonstrations can act as a reality check for governments by bringing to light concerns that may not be apparent from within the government.

"Protest sometimes pokes this bubble, bursts it, and then you feel a certain new air, and you decide what to do," he added. Mr. Aboagye cautioned that governments often find it easy to justify their decisions while in power but warned that such approaches are unsustainable when they do not address legitimate public concerns. However, he stressed that the broader democratic implications of the demonstration should receive more attention than the immediate political disagreements surrounding it.

Using the case of a woman who was arrested for expressing her views on social media, Mr. Aboagye highlighted the importance of freedom of expression in Ghana. He pointed out that many citizens lack access to mainstream media platforms and often rely on social media as their primary means of engaging in democratic discourse. "This woman goes to sleep.

5 a.m., her room is broken into by security services. She is put into an Elx vehicle, driven for eight hours to Accra, sent to a court, and she is remanded for two weeks," he emphasized. Mr. Aboagye questioned the justification for such an arrest, particularly when the police claimed she was arrested for allegedly insulting a government official.

He argued that this incident should prompt a national conversation about the limits of state power and the protection of citizens' constitutional freedoms. Mr. Aboagye maintained that democratic governments must be willing to tolerate criticism, including criticism expressed through new and unconventional platforms such as TikTok.

He stressed that protecting citizens' right to express themselves is vital to maintaining public confidence in Ghana's democratic system.