Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, a former Education Minister and 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) vice-presidential candidate, has said disagreement is democracy, but insult is not.
Napo, as he is commonly called, urged Ghanaians to embrace political differences without allowing disagreements to destroy relationships or undermine democratic values.
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, in his post, attached a video compilation of screenshots of abusive social media comments directed at him, featuring insults like “thief,” “criminal,” and references to EOCO investigations.
In a post shared on his X page on August 11, 2026, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh stated, “Disagreement is democracy, but insult is not. We may criticise leaders, challenge political parties and question ideas, but when argument gives way to abuse, democracy loses its relevance.
Let’s disagree fiercely without losing our dignity because I believe a strong democracy is not one where everyone agrees, but one where we disagree without destroying one another”.
NAPO comments follow the arrest of several individuals over alleged offensive comments and threats directed at the President.
Meanwhile, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, has weighed in on the continuous arrest of persons accused of insulting President John Dramani Mahama and other government officials.
The Majority Chief Whip expressed his disappointment over the recent arrests.
According to Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, he personally opposes the arrests of people for insulting the government.
However, the Majority Chief Whip argued that the arrest although insults are unfortunate, they do not harm the government in any way and called for such arrests to cease.
Speaking in an interview on TV3 on August 8, 2026, Dafeamekpor stated, “I am upset by some of these arrests; they go against the government. Sometimes, the government does not even sanction them; it is the Police. As a government, we must pay attention to some of these things because they do not help. These insults do not hurt the government, so we should allow the people to speak”.
Also, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the government spokesperson, has broken his silence over the ongoing debate surrounding the arrest of individuals accused of publicly threatening the life of President John Dramani Mahama.
According to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, one cannot say people are being arrested for free speech when they are making threats against the life of the President.
He boldly stated that a person who sits on TikTok and threatens the life of a president and his wife cannot go scot-free.
Speaking in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV’s Face to Face on Tuesday, August 4, Kwakye Ofosu stated, “But if you sit on TikTok and threaten the life of a president, saying you will behead the president, put him in a cocoa sack, and attack his wife, you cannot go scot-free. If you did that in any advanced democracy, they would hold you accountable. If you threaten somebody’s life, let alone that of a president, then they will catch up with you,” he said.
He also reacted to former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s recent call for the prosecution of an NDC organiser; he accused Dr Bawumia of applying a double standard by criticising current actions while remaining silent on similar incidents under the previous government.
He argued that Dr Bawumia still has a pending court case involving journalist Bobie Ansah over allegations made against his wife and former First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo.
“When he was Vice President, Bobie Ansah accused his wife and the then First Lady, Madam Rebecca Akufo-Addo, of appropriating state land. The government of the day, in which he was Vice President, put him on trial. That trial is actually still ongoing. The matter is still before the court.
“What was his position at the time? Did he utter a word when he had power and was in a position to influence events? He didn’t. So nobody can take this latest announcement seriously. It is simply an attempt to take political advantage. This is politicking,” he added.
See the post below:
Disagreement is democracy, but insult is not. We may criticise leaders, challenge political parties and question ideas, but when argument gives way to abuse, democracy loses its relevance.
— Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (@MatthewOPrempeh) August 11, 2026
Let’s disagree fiercely without losing our dignity because I believe a strong democracy… pic.twitter.com/i6OZCkJHVQ
@ghnow_ Beneficiaries Express Gratitude to Hon. Ewurabena Aubynn for the Support #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Beneficiaries Express Gratitude to Hon. Ewurabena Aubynn for the Support 🙏🏾🎒📚 #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
