The Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has drawn a clear line between free speech and criminal conduct, saying democracy cannot accommodate the deliberate incitement of hatred and intolerance.
He says democracy cannot accommodate the deliberate incitement of hatred and intolerance, noting a clear distinction must be struck between criminal conduct and the expression of free speech.
The Minister avers free speech does not cover conduct that seeks to stir hatred and violence, saying democracy thrives on disagreement but not on incitement.
Speaking at the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards in Accra on Saturday, November 7, 2026, Kwakye Ofosu said political leaders must not lend support to criminality simply because it serves their political fortunes.
According to him, threatening to kill a President and his children is not free speech, but brazen criminality that must not be excused or defended in the name of free expression.
“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 warned political leaders against defending violent incitement for partisan gain, saying threats to kill President John Dramani Mahama and his children must not be excused as free speech.
He stressed that combating hate speech must not be used as a pretext to silence dissent, saying democracy thrives on disagreement and what it cannot accommodate is the deliberate incitement of hatred, violence and intolerance.
In the same address, Kwakye Ofosu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to media freedom, saying it does not expect favourable headlines from journalists 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,” he said, adding that a government confident in its democratic credentials must be prepared to answer difficult questions and accept legitimate criticism.
“The media must be free to criticise whenever there is a shortfall, acknowledge achievements when they are delivered, and demand explanations whenever the public interest requires it,” he said.
“No journalist should be assaulted, threatened, or unlawfully detained for undertaking a legitimate professional assignment,” he said, adding that allegations of attacks, including those involving security personnel, must be investigated, with accountability following where wrongdoing is established.
His remarks came against the backdrop of the jailing of TikToker Camilla Alhassan, whose case has reignited debate over the line between free speech and criminal conduct.
The Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, who was also speaking at the same awards ceremony, asked the President to grant her a presidential pardon.
READ ALSO: Afenyo-Markin calls on Mahama to pardon Camilla Alhassan
Kwakye Ofosu also 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, and whose murder remains unsolved.
“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 unraveling it,” he said.
The ceremony, held at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel’s Palms Convention Centre in Accra, was held under the theme “Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Media Freedom and Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age,” with President Mahama as keynote speaker and the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, as Chairman.
The awards covered work published in 2025, with the committee assessing 327 entries from 206 applicants and settling on 36 citations from 53 nominees.
Asempa FM’s Philip Osei Bonsu, known as O.B., was named the GJA/PAV Ansah Journalist of the Year, the top prize of the night, while the Daily Graphic’s Timothy Ngnenbe was the most decorated journalist, with three awards.
At the same event, President Mahama announced that government has allocated GH¢10 million in seed money in the 2027 budget for the reactivated Media Development Fund to support journalist welfare, professional development, investigative reporting, digital literacy and safety training.
