No clampdown on free speech — Govt Spokesperson

THE government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting free speech but warned that threats of violence, death or harm do not constitute legitimate expression.

The Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said law enforcement agencies had a responsibility to act against individuals who used social media to incite violence or deepen conflicts through their commentary.

“There is no clampdown on free speech,” he said at the launch of the 30th GJA Media Awards in Accra on Wednesday, October 7.

Mr Ofosu said the government recognised the right of citizens to criticise public officials, including the President, but maintained that such freedoms did not extend to criminal conduct.

He said even harsh criticism of the President was acceptable as part of democratic discourse.

However, he drew a distinction between criticism and threats against public officials and their families.

“If you say that you are going to poison the President and his children and his wife, or that you are going to murder the President, there is no jurisdiction in this world that will be tolerated,” he said.

The Minister said the government had observed cases where individuals used social media to make comments capable of worsening conflicts in parts of the country.

He said law enforcement agencies had therefore used available technology to identify and act against such activities.

Mr Ofosu said Ghana could not ignore conduct that had the potential to trigger violence, citing examples from other parts of Africa where inflammatory speech had contributed to serious conflicts.

He urged the public to distinguish efforts to address criminal conduct from attempts to restrict free speech.

“Often people conflate efforts to curb criminality and criminal conduct with a clampdown on free speech,” he said.

He acknowledged, however, that security officials could sometimes overstep their mandate by confronting people over comments that were offensive or unpopular but not necessarily criminal.

The Minister said such instances should not be confused with legitimate law enforcement action against threats of violence or harm.

He also reiterated the government’s commitment to deepening the frontiers of free speech and said the administration of President John Dramani Mahama would not deliberately restrict media freedoms.

By Abigail Arthur

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