The Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, has strongly criticized the increasing use of the state’s criminal justice system to target citizens and political activists for exercising their constitutional right to free expression.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday following recent parliamentary proceedings, the lawmaker aligned himself with concerns previously raised by the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin regarding the growing suppression of free speech in the country,
Jinapor stressed that freedom of speech is a fundamental human right protected under Article 21 of the Constitution, warning against actions that could undermine the democratic gains achieved over the past two decades. He emphasized that under Ghanaian law and the legal frameworks of comparable democratic nations worldwide, the appropriate remedy for grievances arising from free speech lies strictly within civil law.
The Damongo lawmaker clarified that when individuals make statements that allegedly damage the reputation of public officials, including those holding the highest offices of state, the proper recourse is through civil defamation suits rather than criminal prosecution.
He maintained that aggrieved individuals should seek redress through civil courts, insisting that public officials must refrain from using the state’s criminal justice machinery to intimidate, harass, or prosecute citizens over political speech.
Reflecting on Ghana’s democratic history, Jinapor highlighted the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law in 2001 under the administration of former President John Agyekum Kufuor. He described the repeal as a landmark achievement that significantly expanded press freedom and freedom of expression across the nation.
He cautioned that recent developments involving criminal actions against citizens for expressing their views represent a worrying departure from the democratic principles that have guided Ghana’s governance since that law was repealed.
Consequently, the lawmaker called for a renewed commitment to constitutional freedoms. He urged authorities to uphold civil remedies as the proper avenue for addressing defamation claims, thereby protecting citizens’ rights and strengthening Ghana’s democracy.
Story By: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
