President John Dramani Mahama has questioned the need to arrest some people over comments directed at him, saying there are instances where alleged in
President John Dramani Mahama has questioned the need to arrest some people over comments directed at him, saying there are instances where alleged insults do not affect him at all.
Speaking at a side event on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Mahama said he often learns about arrests linked to comments against him through the media.
“A lot of these arrests, I don’t even know about them, I also hear them on the media,” he said.
He said he was particularly concerned when people were arrested for allegedly insulting him, arguing that some of the comments cited as the basis for the arrests were not serious enough to warrant such action.
“And sometimes it worries me because sometimes the reason for which the person has been arrested, really, I mean, they say he’s insulted me, and you look at the insult, it doesn’t even affect me for the person to be arrested,” President Mahama stated.
His comments come as the government prepares a broader national conversation on hate speech, abusive online content and responsible digital communication.
On September 22, President Mahama tasked the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) to jointly convene a national stakeholder engagement to develop a coherent approach to harmful online content while protecting freedom of expression.
The proposed engagement is expected to bring together media organisations, bloggers, content creators, civil society groups, the Ghana Police Service, legal and human-rights experts, regulators and other relevant stakeholders.
It will examine the distinction between legitimate criticism and unlawful speech and consider proportionate responses, including alternatives to arrest and prosecution where appropriate.
The President has previously expressed concern about disproportionate arrests over criticism or politically charged commentary, warning that such actions could be counterproductive, create “undeserving martyrs” and undermine public confidence in state institutions.
The national forum is therefore expected to explore how Ghana can address hate speech, threats, incitement and other unlawful conduct without criminalising legitimate criticism, political commentary, satire and dissent.
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