Omanghana
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has criticized President John Dramani Mahama’s administration over what he describes as a troubling rise in arrests linked to public comments and alleged insults.
Speaking on TV3’s The Key Points on Saturday, August 8, 2026, Kpebu claimed that more people had been arrested over offensive remarks during the first 18 months of Mahama’s current term than throughout former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s eight years in office.
He described the situation as a “bad record” for the administration, arguing that it raises serious concerns about political tolerance and the protection of free expression in Ghana.
Kpebu acknowledged that insulting public officials and making irresponsible statements are unacceptable. He maintained, however, that deploying the police and other state security agencies to arrest critics is a disproportionate and potentially dangerous response.
According to him, the growing use of criminal arrests to address offensive speech could create a climate of fear and discourage citizens from openly discussing matters of public interest. He warned that if the trend continues unchecked, the government could eventually find itself attempting to “arrest the whole society.”
To support his argument, Kpebu recalled that Mahama, while in opposition, used the expression “Akyem sakawa mafia” in reference to Akufo-Addo and some of his associates. Despite the controversy generated by the remark, he noted that Mahama was not arrested.
He also referred to several harsh statements made by former President Jerry John Rawlings during his political career, arguing that such comments did not result in criminal detention.
Kpebu said those examples demonstrated that political leaders and public officials could respond to provocative remarks without using the criminal justice system against their opponents or critics.
Instead of arrests, he proposed alternative measures for dealing with offensive public commentary. These could include publicly identifying and condemning offenders or applying civil penalties and fines where legally appropriate.
The lawyer called on the administration to exercise restraint and protect citizens’ right to express themselves, even when their statements are unpopular or offensive.
Kpebu’s claim about the number of arrests under the two administrations was presented as his assessment during the television discussion. No official comparative data from the government or law-enforcement authorities was cited to independently establish the figures.
Source: Omanghana
