'Mahama gov’t has arrested more for free speech than Akufo-Addo's eight years' – Martin Kpebu

Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has criticised the arrest of individuals accused of making insulting remarks about President John Dramani Mahama and members of his government, arguing that such arrests raise concerns about freedom of expression.

According to him, the number of people arrested over alleged offensive comments during the first one-and-a-half years of the Mahama administration already exceeds those recorded during the eight-year tenure of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Mr Kpebu described the development as a poor record for the current administration and urged the government to reconsider its approach to offensive public commentary.

Speaking on TV3’s The Key Points on Saturday, August 8, he acknowledged that insulting public officials was inappropriate but maintained that arrests should not be the default response to such remarks.

“For one and a half years, this current government has arrested more people on matters of free speech than Akufo-Addo's eight years. It is a bad record for John Mahama; they should be careful. Mahama should pay attention,” he said.

He argued that excessive arrests could gradually erode the goodwill enjoyed by the government and urged President Mahama to allow citizens to freely express their views.

“These things start small, before he realises all the goodwill is gone. Let the people talk. During Akufo-Addo’s tenure, Mahama called him and others 'Akyem sakawa mafia', who arrested him?” he asked.

Mr Kpebu cited past instances in which political leaders and public figures made strong or derogatory comments about presidents without facing arrest, including remarks attributed to former President Jerry John Rawlings and other prominent personalities.

He suggested that alternative measures, including fines or public condemnation, could be considered when individuals make offensive statements, rather than resorting to arrests.

“We said Akufo-Addo was stone-deaf; ‘mampam’ did he arrest me? Nana Yaa Jantuah called Akufo-Addo Nebuchadnezzar; she popularised it, Allow Ghanaians to talk,” he said.

He also referred to comments allegedly made by the late former President Jerry John Rawlings about then-President J.A. Kufuor, arguing that political leaders must tolerate criticism as part of democratic accountability.

“Late President Jerry John Rawlings called former President J.A. Kufuor while in office a thief. He didn't arrest J.J. You can't shut people down by arrests. I think the government should sit up. As for the insult, there is nothing you can do; it's part of accountability,” he stressed.

Mr Kpebu’s comments come amid heightened debate over political freedoms following the New Patriotic Party’s “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration on Thursday, August 6.

The NPP said the protest was aimed at defending the rule of law, constitutional governance and democratic accountability, while accusing the government of political persecution, selective justice and abuse of state institutions.

The government has rejected those allegations.