'Democracy Under Attack' protest: NPP demands end to alleged criminalisation of free speech

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on the government to immediately stop what it describes as the criminalisation of free speech through the use of criminal prosecutions against political opponents, journalists and social media commentators.

The demand forms part of a petition presented to the Presidency on Thursday, August 6, following the party's "Democracy Under Attack" demonstration held in collaboration with other political parties, civil society organisations and democratic advocacy groups.

The petition, which was also copied to the Chief Justice, Parliament, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Ghana Bar Association, the National Peace Council and the media, raises concerns over what the NPP describes as the erosion of constitutional democracy and the rule of law.

"The Executive and the Ghana Police Service must immediately cease using criminal prosecutions to suppress free expression. Personal injuries to reputation must remain strictly within the purview of civil defamation suits," the petition read in part.

The party alleged that state agencies are increasingly relying on Sections 207 and 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) to arrest, detain and prosecute individuals for criticising public officials, despite the repeal of the Criminal Libel and Seditious Laws in 2001.

According to the petition, the increasing use of criminal investigations in relation to political speech risks undermining democratic participation and freedom of expression.

"The petitioners further state that, to the best of our knowledge, more than forty-five (45) individuals, including politicians, journalists, media commentators, and social media activists, have been subjected to arrests, investigations, prosecutions, or other law enforcement actions which we believe are connected to the expression of political views," it noted.

Beyond its concerns over free speech, the NPP accused the government of interfering with judicial independence, applying selective justice, weaponising state institutions against political opponents and violating constitutional bail provisions.

The party also alleged that security agencies have targeted opposition figures through politically motivated arrests and investigations but has failed to act on petitions involving some members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The NPP said it would continue to pursue what it described as lawful and constitutional means to defend Ghana's democracy if the concerns raised in the petition are not addressed.