Lawyer Martin Kpebu has urged President John Mahama to reconsider the government’s approach to arrests over political comments, warning that continued action against critics could gradually weaken the goodwill surrounding the administration.
Speaking on TV3’s The Key Points on Saturday, August 8, 2026, Kpebu said the government should take its record on free-speech-related arrests seriously and be more cautious in responding to criticism and political commentary.
“These things start small; before he realises, all the goodwill is gone. Let the people talk,” he said.
Kpebu argued that arrests should not become a means of silencing people, particularly those who make comments that the government considers offensive.
“You can’t shut people down by arrests. I think the government should sit up,” he said.
He also claimed that the current administration had recorded more arrests over free-speech matters within its first 18 months than the Nana Akufo-Addo government did during its entire eight-year tenure.
“For one and a half years, this current government has arrested more people on matters of free speech than Akufo-Addo’s eight years. It is a bad record for John Mahama; they should be careful. Mahama should pay attention,” he said.
According to Kpebu, allowing people to express their views, even when those views are harsh or offensive, is important to maintaining the government’s public goodwill.
He therefore called for alternatives to arrest when dealing with offensive public commentary, suggesting measures such as fines or, where appropriate, publicly naming and shaming those responsible.
