“This is an affront to our democracy. Press freedom must be upheld, and we must resist any attempt to suppress free speech.”
The arrest of popular media figure, Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah, on March 19, 2025, by National Security operatives after writing his examinations has sparked significant debate regarding its implications for press freedom.
Some political practitioners view the actions of the National Security operatives as a troubling shift toward the persecution and silencing of dissenting voices.
According to them, “This is an affront to our democracy. Press freedom must be upheld, and we must resist any attempt to suppress free speech.”
Here is a collection of perspectives on the topic at hand:
THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 19, 2025
NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY CONDEMNS THE UNLAWFUL ARREST OF VETERAN JOURNALIST, OKATAKYIE AFRIFA MENSAH BY NATIONAL SECURITY OPERATIVES
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) condemns the unlawful arrest and detention by operatives of the National Security, of Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah, a veteran journalist, who has been critical of the John Mahama administration.
This unlawful action by the marauding operatives of the National Security is the latest installment of the ongoing series of state-sponsored attacks on the media by the NDC government, in their desperate attempt to silence the media and curtail press freedom.
The Party condemns in no uncertain terms this state-sponsored lawlessness and commends the many well-meaning Ghanaians who spoke loudly against this shameful conduct by the National Security. We also commend the young people and the team of lawyers who stormed the National Security Secretariat this evening to see to the release of the abducted journalist.
The NPP wishes to remind President Mahama and his government that the Ghana that was bequeathed to them on January 7, 2025, was a free country. It was the bastion of democracy, underpinned not only by the existence of functioning democratic institutions but also by our unflinching commitment to upholding press freedom as enshrined in Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution.
In line with this commitment, the country also went through the painstaking process of repealing the Criminal and Seditious Libel Law in 2001, a process that was spearheaded by the immediate past President, H.E Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, who was then the Attorney General of the Republic.
It is therefore completely repugnant and unacceptable for the John Mahama administration to be using State Security to intimidate political opponents as well as media personnel in a bid to silence all critical voices This, in fact, is an egregious affront to our democratic and constitutional tenets.
We call on the Ghana Journalist Association, the Media Foundation of West Africa, Civil Society Organizations, and all stakeholders to join us in demanding an immediate cessation of this tyranny and growing culture of state-sponsored attacks on the media.
Enough is enough.
…Signed…
JUSTIN KODUA FRIMPONG
GENERAL SECRETARY
ABANGA YAKUBU FUSANI (NPP MEMBER)
STATEMENT BY ABANGA YAKUBU FUSANI
While we welcome the release of Okatakyie Afrifa, we strongly condemn the actions of the National Security in detaining and intimidating him.
Such behaviour is a blatant violation of press freedom and an unacceptable attack on the fundamental rights of journalists. This act undermines democratic values and violates Article 21(1)(a) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, which guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression.
We urge the NDC government and President Mahama to respect the freedom of the press and ensure such incidents are never repeated.
HON. VINCENT EKOW ASSAFUAH
(Member of Parliament for Old Tafo)
The conduct of the NDC government raises serious concerns about the rule of law, transparency, and democratic governance in Ghana. It appears that state institutions are being weaponized to serve political interests rather than uphold justice and accountability. A dangerous culture of silence is creeping into our democracy, where those who question authority or demand accountability are either ignored, intimidated, or silenced.
For the fourth time, I have drawn the House’s attention to the omission of a parliamentary question regarding the capacity in which Richard Jakpa raided the house of the former Minister of Finance, as well as the authority under which the military personnel who accompanied him did so. What is the government trying to hide? Why are legitimate questions about this blatant abuse of power being suppressed?
Even more disturbing are reports indicating that Richard Jakpa led an armed group of 20 military men to raid the residence of the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana. How did this happen? Under whose authority did he act? Where was national security when this brazen act was carried out? This level of lawlessness under the watch of the NDC government is deeply troubling and unacceptable.
Further to this, I invoked the Right to Information (RTI) Act, seeking access to the memos that the Attorney General claimed were sent to his predecessor by the Prosecution Department. Shockingly, despite the Deputy Attorney General admitting during vetting that he had seen these memos in his private capacity, I, as a lawmaker, have been denied access to them. After 14 days without a response, I formally requested an internal review of the decision—yet again, no response. How can a government that claims to be transparent and accountable refuse to provide such critical information? What exactly are they hiding from the Ghanaian people? This selective obstruction of information only fuels the perception that a deliberate effort is being made to suppress the truth.
I have also submitted a question awaiting admission to inquire why Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, a private businessman, was allowed to drive the President of the Republic during an official visit. This is not merely a matter of protocol; it raises serious concerns about governance, security, and the erosion of state structures.
Additionally, reports suggest that National Security operatives have picked up Okatakyie Afrifa, host of For the Records. Why? What crime has he committed other than exercising his constitutional right to free speech? Are we now living under an oppressive regime where voices critical of the government are silenced?
Even more worrying is the alarming trend of journalists and individuals with dissenting views being harassed, arrested, and intimidated. Any citizen who dares to challenge the government’s actions or question its policies is now a target. Is this the democracy we fought for? The systematic suppression of free speech and press freedom signals the rise of an authoritarian state where criticism is treated as a crime.
Ghanaians must wake up. The abuse of power, lack of accountability, and increasing suppression of dissenting voices should alarm every citizen who believes in democracy and the rule of law. Our country is at a crossroads, and we must decide whether we stand for justice or allow tyranny to take root. If we remain silent, history will judge us.
NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP) YOUNG CAUCUS
19/03/2025
SUBJECT: GHANA’s DEMOCRACY IS SERIOUSLY UNDER ATTACK
The framers of our 1992 constitution knew, that, a certain government would emerge in the year 2025 who will prioritize TYRANNY and CULTURE of Silence by way of sponsoring state institutions to abuse citizens on their fundamental righs, and that is why they boldly captured CITIZENS FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN ARTICLE 21(1) OF THE 1992 CONSTITUTION. We feel the current Attorney General must read that portion to President Mahama to under that we are not under Military regime.
By the way;
Where is Sir Sam Jonah?
Where is Togbe Afede?
Where is Franklin Coudjo?
Where are the other CSOs who made so much noise in the previous government on the subject matter even though that was never the case…?
In Nana Addo’s era, we had people like Captain Smart, Kelvin Taylor, Mogabi, Bobie Ansah and Oheneba Boamah who were HIRED to INSULT/VILIFY/ATTACK Nana Addo, Ministers and Traditional Chiefs 24/7, yet none of them was arrested on a state sponsored acclaimed security operatives. Today, the NDC has gone to hide behind those acclaimed security operatives to arrest OKATAKYIE AFRIFA MENSAH, a Journalist who is expressing his views on issues of core relevance. Where is the democracy we did enjoy in the previous government?
Story: Kwabena Kyekyeku
