Death threats against Mahama amount to ‘brazen criminality,’ not free speech – Kwakye Ofosu

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State for Government Communications, has declared threats to kill President John Dramani Mahama and his children as "brazen criminality". He emphasized that such actions must not be justified under the guise of free speech. At the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards in Accra, speaking on behalf of the President, Ofosu called on political leaders not to back threats and incitement to violence for personal gain.

He made it clear that threatening to harm a president and his children is not protected free speech, but a serious criminal act. Kwakye Ofosu stressed that political leaders must maintain consistency in their defense of free speech, especially when journalists are targeted for publishing critical stories. He reminded that their support for free speech should not be hollow, noting that in the past, journalists had to leave the country due to fear for their lives because of publishing uncomfortable truths.

The Minister also stressed that combating hate speech should not lead to restrictions on dissent, critical journalism, or unpopular opinions. Democracy, he said, hinges on the freedom to disagree, but should not tolerate deliberate incitement of hatred, violence, and intolerance. He stressed the need to differentiate between criminal behavior and the expression of free speech.