Minority Leader Warns: Free Speech Under Threat In Ghana

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has blasted the government for the arrest of NPP youth activist Ababio Kumi in a May 23, 2025, interview on Channel One TV, calling it a politically driven “power play.”

“Talk and you are silenced,” said Afenyo-Markin, implying that the government is repressing opposition by utilizing state power. He appealed for the preservation of democratic values and underlined that such behavior is not a sign of a robust democracy.

Due to remarks he made on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Ababio Kumi was arrested on May 23, 2025, and charged with publishing false information. On Friday, May 23, Kumi was freed from detention after Afenyo-Markin’s intervention.

Some High Officials Are Pushing For Chief Justice’s Removal— Afenyo-Markin

Political tensions have been raised by the arrest, and civil society organizations and opposition leaders have voiced their disapproval of the government’s conduct. Afenyo-Markin’s comments draw attention to the continuous discussion in Ghanaian politics on the exercise of state authority and freedom of expression.