Former energy minister and leading member of the New Patriotic Party, Boakye Agyarko, has strongly condemned what he describes as the growing arrest and detention of party activists for expressing dissenting political views.
In a strongly worded statement, Mr. Agyarko said the reported arrests represent a dangerous threat to Ghana’s democratic principles and constitutional freedoms. He warned that the country risks sliding toward authoritarianism if state institutions are used to silence political opposition.
According to him, Ghana’s 1992 Constitution clearly guarantees freedom of expression under Article 21(1)(a), while Article 14 protects the personal liberty of every citizen. He argued that the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law was meant to permanently end what was once known as the “culture of silence.”
Mr. Agyarko criticised what he described as the weaponisation of state security institutions against political opponents, insisting that a democratic government should respond to criticism with facts and accountability rather than intimidation.
“A confident government does not use handcuffs to answer its critics; it uses superior arguments and demonstrable facts,” he stated.
The former minister also called on the Ghana Police Service to remain neutral and uphold its constitutional duty of maintaining public order without political bias. He further appealed to the National Peace Council, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and the media to speak out against what he sees as a decline in democratic governance.
He warned that silencing one group today could eventually threaten the freedoms of all citizens tomorrow.
Addressing party supporters and activists, Mr. Agyarko assured them that they are not alone and pledged continued legal and democratic efforts to protect their constitutional rights.
To preserve peace, democracy, and good governance, he urged President John Dramani Mahama and other state actors to take immediate action by ensuring the release of individuals detained for speech-related offenses or granting them a fair and transparent legal process.
He also called for an end to the use of Section 208 of the Criminal Code to suppress political debate and urged the government to focus more on addressing Ghana’s economic challenges rather than targeting critics.
Mr. Agyarko concluded by reaffirming Ghana’s reputation as a democratic beacon in Africa, stressing that intolerance and political suppression must not be allowed to undermine the nation’s democratic progress.
“We remain vigilant, we remain vocal, and we shall protect our democracy at all costs,” he declared.
