Afenyo-Markin’s U-Turn: Government Cracks Down on Speech it Once Prais

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin made a scathing accusation against the government at the Empower Vault Summit held at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana on Friday, August 14. He claimed that the current administration is weaponising sections of Ghana's laws to suppress political opposition, satire, and commentary it finds uncomfortable.

Government Targets Free Speech: Afenyo-Markin's Allegations

Afenyo-Markin told participants that the government had built its political platforms around harsh criticism and insults during its time in opposition, and now treats similar conduct directed at it as a criminal offence. "If there is any government that has benefited from the politics of insults, it is this current one," he said. "They mastered it in opposition. They built entire platforms on it. They helped carry them back into office. And now, having ridden the wave to power, the very same comments, aimed the other way, is being treated as crime."

Afenyo-Markin cited Section 76 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), as well as Sections 207 and 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which address matters including the transmission of false information and offensive conduct. He alleged that the provisions were being used to target political opponents and suppress forms of expression that should ordinarily be protected within a democratic society.

The Weaponisation of Laws: A Threat to Democracy

The Majority Leader argued that the government is deliberately weaponising laws that were not designed for what they are now being used for. He claimed that these laws are being used to silence political opponents, punish satire, and criminalise political commentary that the government finds uncomfortable. Afenyo-Markin specifically mentioned the use of Section 76 of the Electronic Communications Act, which deals with the transmission of false information.

Afenyo-Markin also criticised the increasingly harsh conditions attached to the granting of bail. He argued that the right to bail was being subjected to unnecessary restrictions, resulting in suspects suffering despite having been granted bail. "Even the exercise of the right to bail is being subjected to unnecessary harsh conditions, which has even received condemnation from members of the government," he said.

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A Warning to Young Ghanaians

Afenyo-Markin urged young people to take an active interest in governance, constitutional rights, and the application of the law. He warned that laws and state powers that are used against political actors could eventually affect ordinary citizens, including students. "A law that can silence a party organizer today can silence a final year student tomorrow," he said.

The Minority Leader's allegations have sparked concerns about the erosion of democratic freedoms in Ghana. The government's actions have been widely condemned by opposition parties and civil society groups. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the government will take steps to address the concerns raised by Afenyo-Markin.

Source: JOY