Deputy Director of Elections and IT for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rashid Tanko-Computer, has warned politicians and social media users to distinguish between constructive criticism and abusive attacks against government officials and national leaders.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Rashid Tanko-Computer stressed that while democracy encourages criticism and accountability, insults and threats against leaders could undermine the country’s democratic system.

“If you make reckless statements, you should not be allowed to sleep in your house,” he stated while cautioning against what he described as dangerous political rhetoric.

He later clarified that his comments were directed at abusive and threatening conduct rather than legitimate criticism of government policies.

“Criticism is not insult… when you graduate from criticism to insults, to threatening, to attacking our democracy, then it becomes a different matter,” he explained.

According to him, the NDC government remains open to criticism from the opposition and the public, provided such criticism is expressed respectfully.

“If you criticise the government in the form of an insult, we will take it on board,” he added.

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Tanko-Computer pointed to the National Organiser of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, as an example of an opposition figure who regularly criticises the government without facing arrest.

“Nana B has been criticising us. He gave a whole press conference and he's talking a lot about the government. Has anybody picked him up? Has he been picked up? He says a lot of things about our government,” he said.

He argued that differing political ideologies naturally influence how parties view national policies.

“That is his view. He's coming from a capitalist trope. We are social democrats, so he doesn't understand or respect some of our policies. That is to him,” he stated.

Tanko-Computer further expressed concern about what he described as a growing culture among some young politicians and social media activists who seek popularity through insults and attacks on political leaders.

“What we are seeing from some of the young guys in NPP, they think that today if you want to be popular, just go on TikTok, go to social media, insult, say all manner of things, start running down the leadership of this country, and then people will start hailing you,” he remarked.

His comments come in response to allegations by the NPP that more than 16 of its members have been arrested since the NDC returned to power.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News on Tuesday, Ofoase-Ayirebi MP Kojo Oppong Nkrumah claimed the arrests were linked to social media posts and comments critical of the government.’

“Over 16 NPP persons have been arrested for simply making comments on social media or posting things on social media that the government finds unpalatable,” he alleged.

The issue free speech has sparked widespread debate after NPP Bono Chairman was rearrested for criticizing a judge. He is currently detained at the BNI despite claims that his health is deteriorating.

VPO