Let No Ghanaian Be Afraid to Speak Again” – Afenyo-Markin Warns Against Return to Culture of Silence

Minority Leader in Parliament, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and other stakeholders to resist any attempt to return the country to what he described as a “culture of silence”, warning that the increasing use of criminal laws against public expression could undermine Ghana’s democratic gains.

He said Ghana must protect the freedom of journalists, citizens and political actors to question authority, express dissenting views and hold public officials accountable without fear of intimidation or prosecution.

Delivering an address at the 30th GJA Media Awards, held under the theme, “Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Media Freedom and Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age,” Mr Afenyo-Markin cautioned that the country’s democratic credentials should not be measured merely by the number of media organisations operating, but by the extent to which citizens can freely express themselves

“A democracy is not measured only by the number of radio stations, newspapers, television channels and social-media accounts it has. Democracy is measured by whether a citizen can speak without fear; whether a journalist can investigate without intimidation; whether an opposition politician can criticise the government without being treated as an enemy of the state,” he stated.

The Minority Leader said Ghana must guard against developments that could gradually shrink the democratic space, particularly the use of criminal prosecution to deal with public criticism and dissent.

Drawing inspiration from former Prime Minister Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia, he recalled his warning that development without liberty was incomplete, stressing that economic and infrastructural progress could not replace fundamental freedoms.

He quoted Dr Busia as advocating “prosperity in freedom”, including freedom of speech, association and movement, alongside an independent judiciary and respect for human dignity.

He further cited former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s 2019 remarks that he would rather have “a reckless press than a supine one”, arguing that the comments reflected a broader democratic understanding that criticism and dissent were essential to accountable governance.

The Minority Leader, however, expressed concern about what he described as the growing use of Section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which deals with the publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public.

He said the provision, alongside Section 76 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), had increasingly been used to prosecute citizens and journalists over their expressions, particularly on digital platforms.

“Our caucus takes the view that Section 208 has no place in Ghana’s democracy. Its use to prosecute citizens and journalists for what they say or publish is fundamentally at odds with the freedoms of speech and of the press that our Constitution guarantees,” he declared.

In a significant appeal, Mr Afenyo-Markin urged President John Dramani Mahama to consider granting a presidential pardon to Camilla Alhassan, whom he said was serving a jail term over social media-related activities.

He argued that Ghana must not allow the prosecution of speech to become normalised, warning that the consequences could extend beyond newsrooms to homes, schools, religious institutions and the wider society.

Reaffirming the Minority’s commitment to freedom of expression, he said the right to speak and criticise must be protected regardless of political affiliation, profession or social standing.

“We will defend the journalist and the citizen. We will defend the professor and the market woman. We will defend the pastor and the imam. We will defend the TikToker and the traditional ruler. We will defend the government critic and, yes, even the critic of the Minority,” he said.

He callef for a democratic society that balances responsible communication with the protection of fundamental freedoms.

“Let us choose responsibility without repression. Let us choose truth without tyranny. Let us choose accountability without intimidation. Let us choose a Ghana where no citizen is afraid to speak.”