The Minority in Parliament wants the government to drop all pending prosecutions under Sections 207 and 208 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, including a reported second case against jailed TikToker Camilla Alhassan.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin made the demand, saying the continued use of the provisions works against free expression.
“We demand the immediate withdrawal of all pending prosecutions under Sections 207 and 208 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, including the second prosecution threatened against Camilla Alhassan,” he said.
Photo: mynewsgh.com
The call comes after Alhassan was sentenced to one year in prison with hard labour. She had pleaded guilty to offensive conduct over videos in which she made derogatory statements about President John Dramani Mahama.
Afenyo-Markin said the government should give a public assurance that criticism of people in authority would not lead to criminal charges.
Photo: mynewsgh.com
“We want a public commitment from government that no citizen will face criminal charges for speech that is merely critical, embarrassing or unwelcome to those in power,” he said.
He directed part of his appeal at the president, asking him to make sure law enforcement agencies stop bringing cases under the disputed sections.
Photo: mynewsgh.com
“We are asking His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama to ensure that no prosecution is undertaken by the police forthwith,” he said.
Sections 207 and 208 cover offensive conduct and the publication of false statements. Critics of the provisions have argued they can be used to target speech aimed at public officials.
Photo: mynewsgh.com
The reported move to bring a second case against Alhassan has drawn fresh attention to how the sections are applied. She is already serving her sentence following the first conviction.
Afenyo-Markin framed the demand around free speech, saying citizens should be able to criticise those in power without the threat of jail.
The Minority Leader did not set out what steps the group would take if the government declined to act on the demand.
The government has not issued a public response to the call at the time of reporting.
Source: MyNewsG
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