Policy analyst and communications strategist, Dr. Emmanuel Steve Asare Manteaw, has weighed into the ongoing national conversation on free speech and responsible public commentary, stressing that any threat or invitation to assassinate the President constitutes a direct attack on Ghana’s constitutional order and is therefore a treasonable offence.
Dr. Manteaw, who also serves as Co-chair of the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, made the remarks in a Facebook post discussing the limits of free speech under Ghana’s democratic system.
According to him, while the 1992 Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, that right does not extend to statements that incite violence or threaten the life of the President.
“A threat or an invitation to kill the president is a threat to subvert the constitutional order. It is a treasonable offence,” he stated.
His comments come amid growing public debate over arrests linked to comments made on social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and X, formerly Twitter, where individuals have faced police action over statements considered inflammatory, offensive, or capable of disturbing public peace.
Under Article 21(1)(a) of the 1992 Constitution, every citizen is guaranteed the right to freedom of speech and expression.
However, the Constitution also places limitations on that freedom where it is reasonably necessary in the interest of national defence, public safety, public order, public morality, or public health.
Legal experts and security analysts have increasingly pointed out that freedom of expression is not absolute, especially when speech crosses into threats, incitement, defamation, or the publication of false information likely to cause panic or unrest.
Authorities often rely on provisions within the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), particularly Sections 207 and 208, to prosecute cases involving offensive conduct or the publication of false news deemed capable of creating fear and alarm.
The enforcement of these laws, however, has sparked intense public and political debate.
Civil society organizations, including CDD-Ghana, have previously cautioned against what they describe as a dangerous trend of criminalizing dissent, criticism, and public commentary.
Some activists and opposition figures argue that the increasing number of arrests connected to online speech risks undermining democratic freedoms and creating fear among citizens who wish to criticize government policies or public officials.
On the other hand, state authorities and security agencies maintain that free speech must be exercised responsibly and within the confines of the law.
They insist that reckless rhetoric, hate speech, incitement, and threats against public officials cannot be tolerated in a democratic society governed by the rule of law.
The debate continues to highlight the delicate balance the country must maintain between safeguarding constitutional freedoms and preserving national security and public order.
By 1960news.com
