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NPP condemns Camilla Alhassan’s jail sentence, announces support for appeal
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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has condemned the one-year prison sentence handed to Madam Camilla Alhassan by the Accra Circuit Court, describing the conviction as a threat to free speech and constitutional democracy in Ghana.
In a statement issued on July 16, 2026, and signed by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the NPP said it was shocked by the court’s decision to convict and sentence Madam Alhassan for offensive conduct over comments she made online about President John Dramani Mahama.
The party argued that imprisoning a citizen over comments made in the exercise of free expression raises serious constitutional concerns, insisting that freedom of speech is protected under Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution.
According to the NPP, if the President believed he had been defamed, the appropriate remedy should have been a civil defamation suit rather than criminal prosecution.
The statement accused the state of using the police, the Attorney General and the courts to punish a citizen for expressing an opinion, adding that such actions could discourage Ghanaians from freely expressing their views.
The NPP criticised the treatment of Madam Alhassan during the court proceedings and after her conviction.
It described the manner in which she was handled by security officers as dehumanising and said it undermined the dignity of the individual and public confidence in law enforcement.
The party called on the Ghana Police Service to uphold the Constitution and protect the rights of citizens rather than become an instrument of intimidation.
It further appealed to civil society organisations, the Ghana Bar Association, the media and human rights groups to speak against what it described as the criminalisation of free expression.
The NPP urged the National Peace Council to encourage the government to uphold constitutional freedoms, while calling on the diplomatic community and Ghana’s international partners to continue supporting democratic values and the protection of civil liberties in the country.
The party announced that it would support an immediate appeal against Madam Alhassan’s conviction and sentence.
It pledged to stand with her and her legal team to pursue every lawful avenue to challenge the ruling.
The NPP maintained that Ghana must not return to a period where citizens fear expressing their views, stressing that it would continue to defend the constitutional rights of Ghanaians to speak freely and hold those in authority accountable.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ministry of the Interior has condemned the assault of an arrested person while in police custody and has directed the Inspector-General of Police to launch a full investigation into the incident.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry said it noted with concern that the assault followed public statements linked to a religious dispute, including calls for violence against persons considered to have offended religious sensibilities.
“The Ministry unequivocally condemns all such statements, as there is no justification for inciting violence against Christians, Muslims, or any other person on the basis of religion,” the statement said.
The Ministry stressed that regardless of the allegation against a suspect, no one has the right to assault a person in police custody.
“An arrested person is in custody of the State and is entitled to the protection of the law,” the statement noted.
It also expressed serious concern over how civilians gained access to the person in custody.
The Minister, Muntaka Mubarak has directed the IGP to take three immediate actions
They are to identify how civilians accessed the arrested person and determine if any police personnel facilitated, permitted or acquiesced, adding that officers found culpable will face disciplinary action.
Additionally take immediate steps to identify, arrest and investigate the civilian persons who carried out the assault, in accordance with the law.
And finally investigate the conduct of all supervising officers responsible for custody and supervision, and apply disciplinary sanctions where necessary.
The Minister further directed the Police to deal with all persons arrested in connection with the preceding incidents “strictly in accordance with the law and without fear or favour.”
The Ministry reiterated that religious incitement, religious violence and the unlawful assault of persons in custody have no place in Ghana.
“No religious belief, personal grievance or other consideration places anyone above the law,” the statement emphasized.
It reaffirmed government’s commitment to maintaining public order, protecting the rights of persons in custody and promoting peaceful coexistence among citizens of all faiths and backgrounds.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Government of Ghana has stated that it fully funded the evacuation of more than 1,600 Ghanaians from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued on Thursday, August 13, 2026, said Ghana did not seek financial or material support from the South African Government to bring the affected Ghanaians back home.
The Ministry was responding to media reports that South Africa was seeking about $18 million in reimbursement from some African countries for costs incurred in supporting and evacuating their nationals.
It explained that all costs related to the evacuation of Ghanaians were covered by the Government of Ghana and Ghanaian partners.
According to the Ministry, more than 1,600 Ghanaians have been evacuated from South Africa since May 2026, with the exercise still ongoing.
It said the evacuees are also provided with reintegration funds, transport fares and other relief items after arriving in Ghana to help them settle back into the country.
The Ministry assured Ghanaians that the country would not be included among those being asked by South Africa to reimburse the cost of repatriating foreign nationals.
It reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the lives and welfare of Ghanaians living abroad.
The Ministry said the government would continue to take timely action whenever the safety and security of Ghanaians outside the country were at risk.
It expressed gratitude to President John Mahama and Ghanaian partners for supporting the fully Ghanaian-funded evacuation exercise.
By: Jacob Aggrey
