The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has expressed alarm over a growing pattern of state-backed arrests and detentions of bloggers and activists in Ghana, often justified under the pretext of combating “false news.”
The latest case involves Democracy Hub activist Wendell Nana Yaw Yeboah, whose November 26, 2025, arrest the MFWA says signals a troubling erosion of Ghana’s democratic gains, recalling the repressive logic of the now-repealed Criminal Libel Law.
According to the MFWA, the Ghana Police Service, National Security, and other state agencies are increasingly being used to settle reputational disputes involving public officials, bypassing civil remedies in favor of custodial intimidation.
High-Profile Cases Raise Concern
- Wendell Nana Yaw Yeboah: Arrested after a petition by the “Ashanti Democrats” regarding alleged involvement of three Regional Ministers in illegal mining; he had formally retracted and apologized on November 18.
- Samuel Amadotor: Blogger detained on November 20, 2025, following a complaint by former NCA Board Chairman Okatakyie Boakye Danquah Ababio II.
- Kwame Baffoe (Abronye DC): NPP Bono Regional Chairman arrested on September 8, 2025, for “offensive conduct conducive to breach of the peace” and “publication of false news” after criticizing the Inspector General of Police.
- Akyemkwaa Nana Kofi Asare: Wontumi TV presenter abducted on August 12, 2025, over claims linking President Mahama to a fatal military helicopter crash; later found at Police Headquarters in Accra.
- Fante Comedy and Akosua Jollof: TikTok creators arrested on August 12, 2025, following live-stream comments on the helicopter crash.
- Alfred Ababio Kumi: Former parliamentary aspirant arrested on May 17, 2025, over social media claims regarding judicial misconduct.
The MFWA notes that these arrests rely on Section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Section 76 of the Electronic Communications Act (Act 775)—legislation it terms the “Twin Laws,” remnants of colonial-era criminal libel provisions.
While the 2025 MDHI Bill promises to repeal these laws, the MFWA warns that broad definitions of “hate speech” within the bill could still criminalize politically inconvenient speech, potentially replicating the restrictive effects of the repealed laws.
MFWA’s Call to Action
- Immediate Dropping of Criminal Charges: Release all individuals currently in custody and respect constitutional rights.
- Judicial Restraint: Prioritize non-custodial sentences for speech-related offenses.
- Legislative Reform: Urgently repeal Section 208 and Section 76 to eliminate vestiges of criminal libel laws.
- Review of MDHI Bill: Ensure new legislation reinforces civil remedies without reintroducing repressive elements.
The MFWA warns that arbitrary arrests for speech offenses threaten Ghana’s reputation as a beacon of media freedom in Africa. Such practices, it says, chill free expression, discourage whistleblowing, and violate international human rights frameworks, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
