“People Say Very Basic Things and They Are Arrested” — Hon Jerry Ahmed Demands Non-Partisan Debate on Speech Rights

Hon Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Member of Parliament for Weija Gbawe Constituency and Second Deputy Minority Whip, has warned that Ghanaians are being arrested for “very basic” expressions and called for debate on free speech without political posturing.

Contributing in the House, the lawyer-MP quoted Justice William J. Brennan Jr. in the 1964 US Supreme Court case _New York Times Co. v. Sullivan_. “Debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide open,” he read. “And that it may well include vehement, caustic and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and public officials.”

The Lawmaker sought to draw a clear line between the two rights. Citing Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution, he told Parliament: “All persons shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, which shall include freedom of the press and other media.” He added: “It’s obvious that press freedom is a component of freedom of speech.”

He explained: “Freedom of speech is the right of individuals to express their opinions, ideas and information without undue government censorship or punishment. It generally applies to all people.” By contrast, he said press freedom is “the right of journalists and media organizations to gather, publish and distribute news and information without government interference, censorship or intimidation.”

The Weija Gbawe MP said Ghana has recently seen “a lot of arrests just because one is dealing with freedom of expression or freedom of speech.” He stated: “People get to say very basic things and they are arrested.”

Hon Jerry Ahmed referenced the arrest of one David Esando, who he said posted “Dumso is back.” According to the MP, Esando “was arrested from Agona Swedru and was sent to a security institution unknown to his family and friends until about two days later.”

He listed other names he said were arrested: Kwame Bafo alias Abronye, John Ntim Fordjour who is “our colleague,” Paul Adom Otchere and Daniel Adomako

Addressing the Speaker, Hon Ahmed said his wish was that Parliament could have debated the issue “without taking the political stance that we took.” He stressed that free speech protections apply to “all people,” not only journalists.