John Darko, the Member of Parliament for Suame, has said the John Mahama government is becoming too intolerant.
According to the Suame MP, the Mahama government’s rampant arrest trend could undermine Ghana’s democratic credentials and create a perception of intolerance.
He noted that the number of arrests involving individuals over comments and alleged offences against public officials raises concerns about the government’s commitment to freedom of expression.
The Suame MP highlighted that the Mahama government has become popular for arresting people.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue, Mr Darko stated, “The kind of arrests right now, look, this government has become popular for arresting people”.
“Somebody posts something, and you say it is against the President and then you arrest him. You have arrested 14 people in less than two years. This government is becoming intolerant, and we need to call them out”.
The Suame MP further urged the media and other stakeholders to speak up against what he described as a growing culture of intolerance.
“The media, everybody in this country must call this government out for becoming intolerant,” he added.
Meanwhile, following the backlash being received by the John Mahama government over the one-year jail sentence of TikToker Camila Alhassan, a netizen has dropped a list of persons who were also arrested, kidnapped, or tortured under the former Akufo-Addo government.
The netizen’s post was copied from Bongo Ideas lists over a dozen Ghanaian journalists, activists, lawyers, and citizens allegedly arrested, beaten, detained, or killed for criticising or protesting the former NPP government.
The post names cases like Caleb Kudah, Captain Smart, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, and Ahmed Suale.
The netizen in his post wrote, “Persons arrested, kidnapped, tortured for criticizing/working under the current NPP gov’t.
– Caleb Kudah: Citi FM journalist arrested, beaten, detained for taking pictures
– Captain Smart: Onua TV journalist arrested, detained severally for criticising government
– Oliver Barker: Ghanaian lawyer arrested and detained for protesting and criticising the government. Charged with treason!
– Ralph St Williams: Reportedly arrested for demonstrating against $58M spent on the national cathedral
– Oheneba Boamah Bennie: Power FM journalist jailed and fined for criticising the president in the 2020 election petition
– Bobbie Ansah: Accra FM’s journalist arrested and detained for publishing a story
– Mensah Thompson: CEO of ASEPA arrested and detained for publishing a story
– Eric Nana Gyetuah: Connect FM journalist arrested and beaten by police
– Selorm Gborbidzi: Finder newspaper reporter arrested for filming a scuffle between a police officer and a driver
– Efia Odo: Celebrity arrested together with 14 others for staging #fixthecountrydemo
– Nicholas Morkah: Akyemansa FM journalist arrested and beaten by soldiers for filming them
– Bulldog: Artist manager arrested and detained for reportedly threatening the president.
– Salamatu Mohammed: Mother of four arrested for wishing the president dead in a viral video
– Sacut Amenga-Etego: Freelance journalist arrested and beaten for filming suspects in custody
– Shalimar Abbiusi: New Force spokesperson arrested, detained and eventually deported for not being a Ghanaian
– Ahmed Suale: Shot and killed in Madina for his investigative reporting by unknown men on a motorbike
@ghnow_ Traders in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital, have taken to the streets to protest the withdrawal of the Inspector-General of Police’s (IGP) Special Operations Team from the region #GHNow #fyp ♬ son original – Power of Passion Genies2Babi
@ghnow_ Justice beyond the courtroom. The Judicial Service is taking legal education directly to communities as part of activities marking the Supreme Court’s 150th Anniversary. #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
