Threats to kill President John Dramani Mahama and his children are "brazen criminality" and must not be excused as free speech, the government's chief spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has declared.
Speaking on behalf of the President at the 30th Ghana Journalists Association Media Awards in Accra on Saturday night, Mr Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, warned politicians against defending violent incitement for partisan gain.
"For instance, threatening to kill a president and his children is not free speech. It is brazen criminality. We, as political leaders, must not lend support to this level of criminality only because it enures to the benefits of our political fortunes," he said.
The Minister stressed that combating hate speech must not be used as a pretext to silence dissent. "Democracy thrives on disagreement, and what it cannot accommodate is the deliberate incitement of hatred, violence, and intolerance. A clear distinction must be struck between criminal conduct and the expression of free speech," he stated.
He urged political leaders to remain consistent in their defence of press freedom, particularly when journalists face threats for publishing uncomfortable truths. "Our words in support of free speech must not ring hollow, especially when in the north, in the past, journalists had to flee our country for fear of their lives because they published uncomfortable truths," he said.
Ahmed Suale's unsolved murder
The Minister renewed the government's pledge to find the killers of Tiger Eye PI investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, who was gunned down in Madina, Accra, in January 2019. "Journalists in our country lost their lives in pursuit of accountability, and I refer to the unfortunate killing of Ahmed Suale, whose murder remains unsolved, and the government remains committed to unravelling it," he stated.
No one has been convicted for the killing. In October 2025, a suspect facing committal proceedings was discharged following advice from the Attorney-General, a decision the GJA criticised as a grave blot on Ghana's democratic record.
No demand for favourable headlines
Addressing the government's relationship with the press, Mr Kwakye Ofosu said the administration does not demand positive coverage as a condition for engagement. "We do not expect favourable headlines as a condition for engagement, nor do we expect journalists to surrender their editorial independence in the name of partnership. Indeed, a government that is confident in its democratic credentials must be prepared to answer difficult questions and accept legitimate criticism," he said.
He said the media must remain free to scrutinise public spending and question official decisions. "The media must be free to criticise whenever there's a shortfall, acknowledge achievements when we deliver, and demand explanations whenever the public interest requires it," he added.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu also stressed that journalists must be protected from unlawful detention and physical attacks. "No journalist should be assaulted, threatened, or unlawfully detained for undertaking a legitimate professional assignment. Allegations of attacks, including those involving security personnel, must be investigated, and where wrongdoing is established, accountability must follow," he said.
The ceremony, held under the theme "Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Media Freedom and Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age," honoured winners from 53 nominees. The GJA has recorded more than 50 incidents involving attacks, arrests and harassment of journalists between 2022 and January 2026.
