Previous President of the Republic associated with Ghana and 2020 applicant of the opposition National Democratic Congress John Dramani Mahama has criticized what he admits that is President Akufo-Addo’s gagging of press freedom utilizing the police and the courts. List the litany of busts and victimization of media under the Akufo-Addo government, Mahama said the it appears the authorities have shelved investigations in to the murder of Ahmed Suale, an investigative journalist murdered in 2019 while media are arrested frequently about what he says should be civil instances. Mahama argues that these really should not be happening under a President which repealed the Criminal Libel Law. Mr. Mahama states these developments worries your pet as a consummate democrats who seem to supports free speech plus want action from the Chief executive. He said the power associated with state should not be used being a tool for the promotion overwhelming endeavours against journalists. “There have also been several disturbing situations of harassment of media in the line of duty; we now have witnessed media establishments shut down on your instructions, regardless of many appeals to you. Now, within a space of less than fourteen days, four people have suffered law enforcement action, criminalizing their directly to free speech. As Lawyer General, at the time, who brought the repeal of the legal libel law, in order that residents could freely express their own views, it is unconscionable to become suppressing the rights plus criminalising the speech associated with citizens and journalists. It really is even more worrying when the strength of the state is used like a pliant tool in this overwhelming endeavour. ” He published. On his fears about the ultimate legacy Akufo-Addo will bequeath Ghana, Mr. Mahama published: “I fear that if you may not take immediate action in order to arrest this unfortunate tendency, when you exit the high workplace of President in The month of january 2025, freedom of conversation and a free media will definitely not be counted as part of the heritage you leave behind. ”Read the full Open Letter. Beloved President Nana Akufo-Addo, We are appalled at the growing criminalisation of speech and journalism in Ghana, under your view, in this 21st century. An investigative journalist was murdered, below very troubling circumstances. However, while the Ghanaian people as well as the international community have required justice, Government’s inability or even unwillingness to act is apparent to all. The police have practically shelved the investigations straight into this brutal murder. Right now there have also been several disturbing occurrences of harassment of media in the line of duty; we now have witnessed media establishments shut down on your instructions, in spite of many appeals to you. Now, in the space of less than fourteen days, four people have suffered law enforcement action, criminalizing their directly to free speech. As Lawyer General, at the time, who brought the repeal of the felony libel law, in order that people could freely express their particular views, it is unconscionable to become suppressing the rights plus criminalising the speech associated with citizens and journalists. It really is even more worrying when the energy of the state is used like a pliant tool in this overwhelming endeavour. Radio and TELEVISION presenter Captain Smart has been dragged from court, plus although he had been given bail, sent into detention. Another radio presenter, Oheneba Boamah Bennie has been incarcerated for statements he apparently made. A civil community activist was arrested, jailed, sent to court on legal charges, granted bail but detained again for making the statement against you, Chief executive Akufo-Addo. As if to recommend insincerity behind the severe decriminalization of speech which you led, another radio speaker, Bobie Ansah, has been caught, detained and charged– criminalized for speaking and producing allegations against your wife. Once again, last week, security personnel associated with your party brutalized the radio presenter and manufacturer in the city of Takoradi. This kind of lawless attacks have these days become common occurrences within our country. President Akufo-Addo, you are unable to continue to oppress the people, criminalize speech when these issues are essentially civil within nature, if you feel offended simply by them. It is even more unhappy that the Journalists Association and it is senior members, many of our local clergy and other moral leaders, frightened because of the oppressive and dictatorial regime you are running, possess remained quiet in the face of this particular disturbing development in our growing old democracy. This is a dangerous formula you are fashioning for our beloved nation and it must not be motivated. Your actions as Leader have totally discredited your own self-acquired accolade as a human being rights lawyer and activist. Ghana has long surfaced from the unfortunate past exactly where journalists were cowed simply by incarceration and brutalization. We fear that if you do not consider immediate action to police arrest this unfortunate trend, if you exit the high office associated with President in January 2025, freedom of speech and also a free media will certainly not have to get counted as part of the legacy a person leave behind. Your sibling, John Dramani Mahama. 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