Samson Anyenini Backs Bawumia’s Stand, Says Mills Also Rejected Criminalising Offensive Speech
Legal practitioner and journalist Samson Lardi Anyenini has mounted a strong defence of former Vice President and NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, arguing that his call to discontinue the prosecution of an NDC organiser mirrors a precedent set by the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
His intervention follows criticism from some NDC supporters after an organiser in Agona West was arrested over alleged false publication and offensive comments about Dr Bawumia. The debate intensified after TikToker Camilla Alhassan received a one‑year jail term for offensive conduct and false news targeting President John Mahama, with some claiming the NDC organiser’s prosecution showed the law was being applied evenly.
Mr Anyenini dismissed that narrative outright.
He quoted Dr Bawumia as stating clearly that he never filed a complaint and never authorised any prosecution, insisting the former Vice President has long held the view that “the answer to offensive speech is better speech, and the answer to falsehood is truth—not handcuffs, courtrooms and crushing bail conditions.”
To reinforce his point, Mr Anyenini cited a 2011 incident involving the late John Kumah, who was arrested for offensive remarks about President Mills. According to him, President Mills personally instructed the police to release Kumah because he did not wish to pursue the matter.
“President Mills himself directly instructed the police to release him because he was not interested in pursuing the case. If President Mills could intervene to prevent the criminalisation of speech directed at him, Dr Bawumia is entirely entitled to disavow prosecutions done purportedly in his name,” he argued.
Mr Anyenini suggested the recent prosecution of the NDC organiser appeared to be an attempt at political equalisation—a move designed to create the impression that supporters of both major parties are being treated the same.
“This is being done to attempt an equalisation so that it can be said that it’s not only people maligning and insulting the First Family and NDC politicians who are being arrested and prosecuted, but even in the NPP, those who insult the flagbearer are also facing the same things,” he said.
He maintained that while offensive speech must be condemned, criminal prosecution is not the appropriate response.