Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has cautioned against the use of arrests and prosecutions in response to political comments, particularly where the conduct involved is linked to insults or criticism of political figures.
Speaking at the Mampong Ohum/Odwira 2026 celebration, Mr Annoh-Dompreh called for restraint in dealing with political speech, stressing the need for tolerance, fairness and respect for due process in Ghana’s democratic system.
He reminded political leaders and those in positions of authority that political power is transient, urging them to consider the long-term consequences of actions taken against political opponents and citizens over comments made in public or on social media.
According to him, Ghana must guard against a situation where the criminal justice system becomes entangled in partisan political disputes, particularly where there are perceptions that similar conduct is treated differently depending on the political affiliation of those involved.
His comments come amid an ongoing national debate over the arrest and prosecution of individuals over allegedly offensive, defamatory or threatening comments directed at political figures.
Political actors and civil society groups have raised questions about how Ghana can balance the constitutional right to freedom of expression with the enforcement of laws against speech that may amount to criminal conduct.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh also appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders and other influential figures to help promote responsible political communication and discourage insults and inflammatory rhetoric, particularly on social media.
He noted that political discourse has increasingly shifted to digital platforms, where young people and other users regularly comment on political leaders, public officials and their families.
He therefore urged citizens and political actors to exercise restraint and responsibility while preserving the democratic right to criticise public officials.
The Minority Chief Whip said Ghana’s democratic institutions must uphold fairness, due process and the equal application of the law, regardless of political affiliation.
