Bawumia: Intelligence agencies won’t chase citizens for insulting President under my tenure

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2028 elections, has called for the release of a nurse and mother of three, Salomey Bafor Awiti, who has been remanded for two weeks over allegations of abetting the publication of false news. The arrest of Salomey and the identification of Barbara Asantewaa Kodua as the alleged operator of the "Ghana Jollof" social media account have raised concerns over potential infringements on citizens' right to free speech.

Under Bawumia's Presidency, intelligence agencies will not be reduced to pursuing citizens over insults directed at the President or other public figures, he stated. Bawumia emphasized that the ideas needed to transform the nation won't come from insults, urging political actors and citizens to conduct themselves with decorum. He stressed that opposition to insulting or abusive speech should not result in restrictions on legitimate free expression, and called for the government to respect the constitutional right to free speech.

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