Accra, Ghana – Ghana has recorded 14 arrests linked to false information and offensive speech in lower than 16 months, practically double the quantity documented in the course of the earlier administration’s total eight-year tenure, based on the Media Basis for West Africa (MFWA).
The rise has triggered a pointy debate in one among West Africa’s most secure democracies over whether or not authorities are merely implementing long-standing legal guidelines in a brand new digital surroundings, or edging right into a extra restrictive strategy to public speech.
The controversy carries added political weight as a result of President John Mahama, whereas in opposition in 2022, warned that utilizing state energy to intimidate dissent was a “harmful blueprint” for democracy.
Authorities: enforcement not repression
A senior ruling celebration official dismissed allegations that the arrests quantity to a crackdown.
“The opposition deliberately sponsors folks to insult the President,” he informed Al Jazeera. “When the legislation catches up with them, they cry persecution to attain low-cost political factors.”
He pointed to the case of TikToker Prince Ofori, generally known as “Fante Comedy”, who was arrested final August over alleged threats to President Mahama.
Days after his arrest, Ofori appeared at a political rally alongside opposition figures, a improvement the official stated confirmed how rapidly such circumstances turn into politicised.
“They paraded him at an opposition rally,” he stated.
Opposition: a warning signal for democracy
Opposition leaders see one thing extra troubling taking form.
Minority chief Alexander Afenyo-Markin has been among the many most outspoken critics.
“The state-sponsored persecution should cease,” he informed Al Jazeera. “Arresting residents for phrases that don’t represent real threats just isn’t justice. It’s intimidation.”
He stated free speech has limits, however argued that the state is more and more crossing a line.
“Extreme use of state energy dangers undoing Ghana’s hard-won democratic beneficial properties,” he stated.
The place is the road?
On the centre of the controversy are long-standing provisions in Ghana’s Prison Code and Digital Communications Act, which authorities say at the moment are being utilized to a fast-moving digital panorama.
Authorities supporters argue the rise in arrests displays the explosion of nameless and unregulated on-line content material.
Critics say the issue just isn’t the legal guidelines themselves, however how they’re getting used.
A authorized guide who reviewed latest circumstances stated he counted not less than 16 alleged misapplications of Part 208 up to now 18 months, in contrast with roughly a dozen within the earlier eight years.
“The legislation has been abused past restore,” he stated. “Repeal is the one treatment.”
Veteran journalist Ben Ephson stated Ghana wants clearer steering on the place free expression ends and hurt begins.
“The federal government should correctly clarify the arrests so folks can draw the road between press freedom and accountable journalism,” he stated.
He added that each journalists and state establishments danger overstepping if the foundations stay unclear.
“If you evaluate the liberty of the media and the rights of the person, we should be cautious that the media, in attempting to do their work, don’t trample on folks’s rights,” he stated.
A wider international debate
Others say Ghana’s debate mirrors tensions enjoying out in different democracies.
Tegha King of the Common Peace Federation Ghana stated issues about shrinking civic area will not be distinctive to Ghana.
“The worldwide civic area should domesticate extra free speech, not much less,” he informed Al Jazeera.
He stated stronger establishments, no more arrests, are wanted to handle the pressures of the digital age.
“There have to be unbiased courts, clear enforcement, media self-regulation and digital literacy,” he stated.
Civic consciousness and exterior concern
Some analysts level to gaps in public understanding of constitutional rights.
“There’s a lack of constitutional training amongst many Ghanaians,” stated David Adofo of the African Chamber of Content material Producers. “Folks should know the implications of their actions earlier than they act, not after.”
Issues are additionally being voiced exterior the nation.
“We’ve had many issues from diasporans about perceived erosion of press and political freedoms, particularly information of blogger arrests,” stated Nana Kofi Opoku-Agyemang of the NuGhana Expat Heart. “Detrimental information sells quick. The federal government have to be cautious so it doesn’t venture a destructive picture of Ghana within the diasporan group.”
Authorities stance
Officers insist there isn’t a coordinated effort to silence dissent.
An NDC communicator stated the authorized framework in query predates the present administration and defended the strategy.
“Ghana’s legal guidelines, Part 208 of the Prison Code and Part 76 of the Digital Communications Act, have been on the books for many years,” he stated. “What has modified is the sheer quantity of reckless, nameless and generally harmful content material on social media. There isn’t a systematic crackdown. There may be merely enforcement of current legislation.”
![Personnel of Ghana's Police Service stands guard during a Show of Force Exercise in Accra, Ghana, December 11, 2025. [Francis Kokoroko/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2025-12-12T002056Z_86881175_RC2DEIA7WL6K_RTRMADP_3_GHANA-SECURITY-1780497947.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
A political irony on the centre of all of it
Ghana stays one among West Africa’s extra open democracies, with a aggressive political system and lively media panorama.
However the rise in speech-related arrests has sharpened scrutiny of how far the state can go in policing on-line expression with out undermining the democratic tradition that helped outline its repute.
The controversy can be politically charged due to Mahama’s personal previous warnings.
As opposition chief, he described the usage of state energy towards dissent as a “harmful blueprint.” Immediately, critics say his authorities faces accusations it as soon as condemned.
For Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the second requires restraint — and reflection.
“We must always not proceed to say that as a result of it occurred yesterday, it ought to occur immediately and tomorrow. That cycle should finish,” he stated. “President Mahama has a possibility to depart a legacy of tolerance and free speech. I hope he takes it.”
