Mahama gov't has arrested more people over free speech in 18 months than Akufo-Addo did in 8 years - Kpebu

Martin Kpebu, a private legal practitioner, criticized the increasing arrest of individuals over comments deemed insulting or offensive to public officials on Saturday, August 8, on TV3's The Key Points. He claimed the Mahama administration has recorded more such arrests in its first 18 months than the previous Akufo-Addo government did in eight years. Kpebu stated, "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."

Kpebu described the situation as a poor record for President John Dramani Mahama and urged the government to reconsider the use of arrests. He acknowledged that insulting public officials was inappropriate but argued that arrests were not the solution. He also cited instances during Akufo-Addo's tenure where Mahama called him and others 'Akyem sakawa mafia' without arrest, and Nana Yaa Jantuah called Akufo-Addo Nebuchadnezzar. Kpebu also mentioned the late former President Jerry John Rawlings making strong accusations against former President John Agyekum Kufuor while in office without being arrested.