Awal Mohammed, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) communication team, has criticised the Ghana Police Service for what he describes as a revival of outdated and repressive practices in dealing with political dissent.
Speaking on Prime Insight on Joy Prime on Saturday, September 27, Mr. Mohammed expressed deep concern over what he termed “selective justice” and the unlawful targeting of opposition voices.
“There is nowhere in our laws that states if I insult someone, I can be arrested, handcuffed, and dragged to court. Our legal system doesn’t work like that,” he stated emphatically.
While clearly distancing himself from the use of insults in political discourse, Mr. Mohammed underscored the critical importance of protecting freedom of speech as enshrined in Ghana's Constitution.
“I am completely against insults—whether directed at public officers or anyone else. I have never resorted to insults in my political career. But the decriminalisation of speech is crucial. Our Constitution supports that.”
He also drew historical parallels, recalling how journalists in the past were imprisoned for expressing their views.
“The kind of heavy-handedness the police are showing today is reminiscent of the 1990s. The last time I witnessed such conduct was in 1998, when journalists Malik Kwaku Baako and Alhaji Haruna Atta were jailed for 30 days. That’s why President Kufuor, after assuming office, repealed the criminal libel law.”
Mr. Mohammed's comments come in the wake of rising concerns about the use of state institutions to silence critics and stifle free expression, a trend many fear could erode Ghana’s democratic foundations.
Source: MyNewsGh.com
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