Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, has rejected claims by the Minority that the government is suppressing free speech, insisting that freedom of expression must be exercised responsibly and within the law.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, Dr Ayine said the opposition was overstating allegations of attempts to gag dissenting voices.
“I think that the Minority is exaggerating a lot with respect to the question of gagging of free speech,” he stated.
According to the Attorney-General, although Ghana’s Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and other fundamental rights under Article 21, those freedoms are not absolute and can be limited under certain circumstances.
“There are limits. You can limit free speech if, for instance, it is something that can undermine public order, public morals, or for law enforcement reasons,” he explained.
Dr Ayine argued that government cannot remain passive when individuals use public platforms to spread messages capable of inciting division or violence.
“So if someone, for instance, is inciting hatred in our society, we do not expect that the Minority will say that we should sit down idly as a government and allow that person to go on,” he added.
The Attorney-General referenced the 1994 Rwanda genocide, saying dangerous speech and media propaganda contributed significantly to the violence.
“Those are some of the things that led to wars in countries such as Rwanda,” he noted. “It was the use of the media that incited the genocide that eventually took place in Rwanda.”
Dr Ayine maintained that the government of President John Dramani Mahama remains committed to protecting democratic freedoms, describing the President as “one of the staunchest supporters of free speech.”
He also stressed his own commitment to democratic values and said he would be the last person to undermine the rights of citizens to express themselves freely.
“As Attorney General, I do understand the importance of free speech in a democratic society, and I would be the last person to want to undermine the rights of citizens to freely express themselves,” he said.
However, he cautioned against the abuse of free expression in ways that threaten peace and public order.
The Attorney-General declined to comment extensively on matters currently before the courts, saying it would be inappropriate to do so while proceedings are ongoing.
The comments come amid heightened political tension following remarks by the National Youth Organiser of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, who warned that the party could adopt drastic measures if alleged harassment of its members continues.
The development also follows the remand of Bono Regional NPP Chairman Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, over alleged offensive conduct likely to breach the peace and publication of false statements against a judge.
