Member of Parliament (MP) for Akuapem North, Sammi Awuku, has warned government appointees to be mindful of the arrests of New Patriotic Party (NPP) activists, saying they could face similar treatment under a future administration.

Speaking on UTV on August 17, 2026, Awuku said he was concerned about the situation and feared for officials of the current government.

Don't hide behind social media and peddle lies - Sammi Awuku warns

“I fear for the appointees of the current government because of what is happening to NPP members. I am not saying we will retaliate but I fear for them. They make administrative infractions criminal, EOCO and other administrative bodies,” he said.

He also raised concerns about what he described as the criminalisation of political speech, warning that using arrests to deal with political comments and allegations could undermine democratic freedoms.

“I am one of the persons who always defends freedom of speech, but we shouldn’t let people think it is not worth defending it. Arresting people will not solve the problem. The problem lies in ruining people’s reputation,” he stated.

Awuku said the development should concern anyone who values democracy, arguing that people should be allowed to make allegations and have their claims challenged with facts rather than through arrests.

The Akuapem North MP said the NPP would not shy away from accountability and urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to adopt the same position.

“The NPP will not run away from accountability, the same way the NDC should not run away from accountability,” he said.

Awuku further expressed concern about the manner in which some NDC members serving in state institutions were running them.

“Colleagues serving in public service, they themselves are worried, some are in Parliament, and they feel uncomfortable with the way some of their colleagues manning state investigative bodies are behaving. They also know that as they are taking decisions on behalf of entities, some of them, some decisions could mean well, but a future government can criminalise the administrative decisions,” he added.

JKB/MA

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