Martin Kpebu, a Private legal practitioner, has expressed disappointment with the conduct of some National Democratic Congress (NDC) appointees.
According to Martin Kpebu, he did not support the NDC in the 2024 elections for them to engage in what he described as “nonsense”.
Lawyer Kpebu’s criticism centred on what he considered an improper use of legal authority by some appointees, alleging that some government appointees were misusing their legal authority and damaging the image of the governing party.
He warned that EOCO’s actions and inactions could carry an electoral cost for the governing party.
Martin Kpebu stressed that the agency’s conduct could contribute to the NDC losing power in the 2028 general election.
Speaking in an interview amid the ongoing controversy involving EOCO and Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, stated, “It is a shame; I didn’t campaign for the NDC to come and do this nonsense”.
Mr Kpebu disclosed that he had campaigned vigorously for the NDC, noting that supporting the NDC during the administration of former President Akufo-Addo had not been easy.
“Do you know how we suffered? Akufo-Addo, do you know how dangerous he was? Do you know what we lost?” he argued.
“Then you (NDC) come, this is how you are misusing the power?” he lamented.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has broken his silence over the growing number of arrests involving social media commentators, particularly TikTokers.
According to Mahama, he is not aware of many of the arrests until they are brought to his attention through media reports.
Mahama, however, stressed the need for a broader national conversation on how TikTok and other emerging media platforms should be regulated.
The President disclosed that the government could simply direct the police not to arrest people over statements they make; such a move could raise questions about whether it reflects the position Ghanaians want to adopt.
He therefore called for a wider discussion on the appropriate balance between freedom of expression and the regulation of content on new media platforms.
Speaking at a town hall meeting with the Ghanaian community in New York on Friday, September 25, President Mahama stated, “There is a new term that I call information integrity. The media has become democratised. Anybody with a mobile phone can disseminate information. There is a new medium called TikTok. And it’s not only Ghana where people are wondering what to do to regulate TikTok. Because in all countries all over the world, we are wondering what to do to make sure that we have information integrity even with TikTok”.
“Anybody who has a phone just puts it in front of him and just says whatever he likes. Once they put it out, it has an algorithm that shares it,” he said.
He added, “As a leader, I don’t mind being insulted. I’ve been insulted. I was vilified. I was voted out of office. I have a tough skin; so if you insult me, I don’t mind,” he said.
“Definitely, a lot of these arrests, I don’t even know about them. I also hear about them in the media. Some of them have been tracked and arrested and all that. And sometimes, it worries me, because sometimes the reason for which the person has been arrested, really, they say, is because he insulted me,” he said.
Mahama said the challenge was determining where legitimate freedom of expression ended and conduct that required intervention, saying, “I can tell the IGP, we can go to Cabinet and say, let anybody insult anybody. Let’s leave it free for all. Don’t arrest anybody for anything they say. We can do that. But is that what we want?”
“So, let’s all decide what we want to do. So, that we either find a way of regulating it or we say, when it comes to free expression, anybody can say whatever he wants,” he said.
He further disclosed that the question of regulating new media should not be determined by government alone.
Mahama added, “What we should do is for the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) to bring all the stakeholders together and hold a workshop or a forum.
“Let’s all collectively take a decision on what we want to do with the new media. Should the police get involved, or shouldn’t they get involved? How do we regulate it? You come out and tell us,” he said.
@ghnow_ Hon. Napo has arrived at the NPP delegates conference at the Baba Yara Stadium #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Ballot boxes are being prepared at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium as delegates get ready for the NPP elections to begin. #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – patrioticdefenders backup
