Free Speech Faces “Real and Palpable Threat” — Manhyia South MP Cites 17 Arrests in 16 Months
Gladson Afriyie
Journalist
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Hon. Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, says free speech is currently “under a real and palpable threat” and called on Parliament to act to protect it.
Contributing to debate in the House, the lawyer-MP said the issue goes beyond the formal nature of the law to “the reality on the ground.” He argued that Ghana’s reality today is “an abuse of the powers of arrest and the discretion to grant bail in respect of persons accused of speaking.”
Hon Awuah cited remarks by journalist Samson Lardy Anyenini, who estimated that in the last 16 months, 17 people have been arrested “on the pretext of acting contrary to Section 208” of the Criminal Offences Act. “They were arrested, Mr Speaker, just by speaking,” he said.
He recalled that on January 29, 2026, the Ghana Journalists Association raised alarm over “escalating attack and threats against journalists.” He said that, combined with the arrests, shows the threat to free speech is real.
The Manhyia South MP questioned the role of the courts in remanding persons for speech-related offences. “We can pardon the police because one would say that they do not have the training of lawyers, but what about the courts?” he asked. He said people are now being remanded for misdemeanors.
Hon Awuah noted that concern is not limited to the Minority. He said Majority Leader Haruna Iddrisu and the Minister for the Interior have both complained about how such matters are handled. “We are not alone and we are inviting our brothers to join us,” he told the House.
He described free speech as “the ordinary Ghanaian’s tool for holding political power to account.” He warned that curtailing it through intimidation and arrest takes away the citizen’s right to hold politicians accountable.
Hon Awuah urged the House to unite against the trend. He warned of the risk that President Mahama “goes down in history as the president under whose tenure innocent people were arrested and remanded just by exercising their right to free speech.” He stressed: “Even if one person is dealt with wrongly and contrary to the law, Mr Speaker, it is wrong. And we need to correct that as a House.”
