{
  "id": 385349,
  "title": "Mahama gov’t has arrested more people over free speech in 18 months than Akufo-Addo did in 8 years – Kpebu",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/mahama-govt-has-arrested-more-people-over-free-speech-in-18-months",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-09T14:23:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/mahama-govt-has-arrested-more-people-over-free-speech-in-18-months-than-akufo-addo-did-in-8-years-kpebu/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has criticized the increasing arrests of individuals in Ghana for comments deemed insulting or offensive to public officials. Kpebu claims that the Mahama administration has arrested more people over free speech issues in the first 18 months of its government than the Akufo-Addo government did in eight years. He argues that this trend is a negative reflection on President John Dramani Mahama and urges the government to reconsider its approach to dealing with offensive public commentary.\n\nKpebu acknowledges that insulting public officials is inappropriate but maintains that arrests are not the solution. He warns that continued arrests could gradually erode public goodwill towards the government. Kpebu points out that politicians and public figures in Ghana's democratic history have made harsh remarks about those in power without facing arrest. He cites examples such as Akufo-Addo being called \"stone-deaf\" and Nana Yaa Jantuah's popularization of the term \"Akyem sakawa mafia\" in reference to Akufo-Addo.\n\nThe lawyer emphasizes that Ghana's history is replete with instances where politicians and public figures have made strong accusations against each other without facing arrest. He argues that instead of resorting to arrests, the country should have a broader conversation about alternative ways of responding to offensive public commentary. Kpebu suggests measures such as fines or public naming and shaming as potential alternatives, stating that attempting to arrest everyone who makes insulting remarks would be neither practical nor desirable in a democracy.",
  "summary": "Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has criticised what he describes as the increasing arrest of individuals over comments deemed insulting or offensive to public officials, claiming the Mahama administration has recorded more such arrests in its first 18 months than the previous Akufo-Addo government did in eight years. He described the situation as a poor […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "3News",
        "title": "Prez Mahama govt has arrested more for free speech than Akufo-Addo's eight years - Martin Kpebu",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/prez-mahama-govt-has-arrested-more-for-free-speech-than-akufo-addos",
        "published": "2026-08-09T17:19:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}