Death threats against Mahama amount to ‘brazen criminality,’ not free speech – Kwakye Ofosu

Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has condemned threats to kill President John Dramani Mahama and his children, describing them as “brazen criminality” rather than an exercise of free speech.

Speaking on behalf of the President at the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards in Accra, he cautioned political leaders against encouraging or defending threats and incitement to violence for partisan interests.

“For instance, threatening to kill a president and his children is not free speech. It is brazen criminality. We, as political leaders, must not lend support to this level of criminality only because it enures to the benefits of our political fortunes,” he said.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu called for consistency in the way political leaders defend freedom of expression, particularly when journalists are threatened or intimidated over reports critical of powerful individuals and institutions.

He recalled instances in northern Ghana where journalists had reportedly been forced to flee for their safety after publishing stories considered uncomfortable by certain interests.

“Our words in support of free speech must not ring hollow, especially when in the north, in the past, journalists had to flee our country for fear of their lives because they published uncomfortable truths,” he stated.

The Minister further warned against using the fight against hate speech as a pretext to suppress dissent, critical reporting or opinions that may be unpopular.

He argued that while disagreement was essential to democracy, deliberate attempts to provoke hatred, violence and intolerance had no place in a democratic society.

“Democracy thrives on disagreement, and what it cannot accommodate is the deliberate incitement of hatred, violence, and intolerance. A clear distinction must be struck between criminal conduct and the expression of free speech,” he said.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu made the remarks at the 30th GJA Media Awards, organised under the theme, “Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Media Freedom and Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age.”

The ceremony brought together journalists, media organisations and other stakeholders to celebrate outstanding contributions to journalism and reflect on challenges confronting media freedom in Ghana.