President John Dramani Mahama has raised concerns over criticisms surrounding police arrests for insults directed at public officials.

According to him, he can instruct the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, to desist from arresting persons who make derogatory and insulting remarks about government officials.

However, he believes Ghanaians would not opt for such a directive, as it could embolden people to cause reputational damage, especially on social media.

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During a town hall meeting with the Ghanaian community in the Tri-State Area of the United States of America, President Mahama noted that the nature of insults hurled through TikTok is worrying and does not augur well for the nation as a whole, hence the need for security agencies to take action.

“I don't mind the insults, but all of us have to decide what we want to do with TikTok. I can tell the IGP, we can go to the cabinet and say, ‘Lay off, let anybody insult anybody; let's leave it a free-for-all; don't arrest anybody for anything they say.’ We can do that, but is that what we want?

“Should the police get involved, or shouldn't they get involved? How do we regulate it? Or do we say we're a country of free expression, so anybody can say whatever he wants? But indeed, sometimes in Ghana, we try to make it look like we invented democracy,” he said.

The President further asserted that his call for a media coalition to bring stakeholders on board and gather their ideas on addressing the menace would also prove decisive.

This comes as the police continue to arrest individuals who make derogatory and vile comments about public officials. One popular target of such comments is Ghana Jollof, who is yet to be arrested.

Watch the video below:

As a leader, I don't mind being insulted. I've been insulted, I was vilified, I was voted out of office, so for me, this skin is a crocodile skin, so if you insult me, I don't mind. And indeed, I'm doing what I can for my country and my continent — President Mahama, as he speaks… pic.twitter.com/6u7RPu9mnA

— The1957News (@The1957News) September 26, 2026