Former Minister of Health, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, has backed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) youth wing’s protest in Accra, on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, claiming that freedom of speech, the cornerstone of Ghana's democracy, is currently under threat.

Speaking at the protest grounds, Dr Okoe Boye argued that democracy thrives on tolerance of divergent views, even when expressed bluntly, and warned that arresting people for their opinions sets a dangerous precedent.

“Immediately somebody can be arrested and handcuffed for talking in a way that in another person’s judgment is not proper; it means all of us are in danger,” he cautioned.

According to him, democracy thrives on tolerance of divergent views, even when expressed bluntly or crudely.

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“By virtue of my level of education, training, and personal values, there is a way I will put a point across which might look to you very proper. But you have others who also want to make a point but might not have the training and intellect to do so. They will speak in a blunt manner, sometimes in an insulting manner, but the beauty of democracy is that all such people are tolerated in society,” he explained.

Dr Okoe Boye argued that silencing dissent through the fear of arrest could stifle Ghana’s innovation and dynamism.

“All democracies or societies that were successful in the past lost their success was because of the culture of silence. When people stop speaking, the society is no more dynamic and we will lose our innovativeness and drive,” he indicated.

He noted that the protest had two main aims: to defend free speech and to resist what he described as unprofessional conduct by the police.

He cited instances where NPP activists, including Abronye DC and Sir Obama, were arrested under what he called intimidating circumstances.

“Why do you go to Sir Obama, an NPP activist, at 4 am, break through his door, and enter his room; not because he has harmed somebody but because he posted a picture on Facebook? I mean, these are dangerous precedents,” he noted.

The protest was triggered by the arrest of Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, the NPP’s Bono Regional Chairman, who was detained on September 8, 2025, and charged with offensive conduct and publishing false news.

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Beyond Abronye’s case, protesters say the demonstration reflects growing frustrations over alleged intimidation and harassment of NPP members, including Chairman Wontumi (Bernard Antwi-Boasiako) and several social media activists.

MRA/VPO

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