The Deputy Director of Elections and IT of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rashid Tanko Computer, has defended the arrest and detention of individuals over speech-related offences.
His remarks come amid a petition by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the diplomatic community over alleged state-sponsored persecution of its members and concerns about declining political freedoms.
The petition follows recent developments involving Bono Regional NPP Chairman Kwame Baffoe, who has been remanded by an Accra Circuit Court on charges of offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace and publication of false news.
Abronye’s arrest stems from a social media video in which he allegedly criticised a Circuit Court judge and questioned the judge’s impartiality.
He was denied bail by an Accra Circuit Court on May 13, with the court citing concerns that he could repeat similar alleged offences as he did while on bail in a related case.
The NPP has also cited what it describes as a wider pattern of arrests targeting its members over speech-related issues, urging diplomatic partners to intervene and monitor the situation closely.
Reacting to the claims on Accra-based JoyNews’ The Pulse on Tuesday, May 19, Tanko Computer argued that reckless speech capable of disturbing public peace must attract consequences under the law.
“If you make reckless statements that have the tendency of disturbing the peace of this country, you will not sleep in your house,” he stated.
He stressed that freedom of expression does not extend to conduct that threatens national stability or undermines state institutions.
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