Legal practitioner and journalist Samson Lardi Anyenini has raised concerns over the government’s recent crackdown on offensive speech, questioning what he describes as a sudden surge of outrage from President John Mahama and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
Reacting to the arrests and prosecution of social media users over their political commentary, Anyenini argued that the current outcry from government officials is misplaced. “I don’t know why they are shocked. Shocked over this growing trend. Really? It begs the question. Why the sudden outrage?” he remarked.
Anyenini, who also hosts a television program, pointed out that the NDC and current government leaders were among the primary beneficiaries of misinformation, insults, and vilification during the last two election campaigns. “Never once did they express revulsion or publicly rebuke their serial callers and social media activists who insulted, vilified, and maligned almost every prominent politician in the NPP, as well as disrespected traditional chiefs and elders across this country,” he said.
He argued that political actors who encourage or tolerate offensive speech for electoral gain cannot turn around and condemn it after coming to power. “You cannot nurture a monster for political expediency during elections and then feign horror when it begins to bite everyone around you,” Anyenini stated.
His comments come amid growing debate about freedom of expression, responsible speech, and political accountability in Ghana, following the government’s renewed efforts to curb offensive content on social media platforms.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com