Arrests of critics in Ghana provokes alarm over free speech under Mahama

Ghana has seen a significant rise in arrests linked to false news and offensive speech, with 14 recorded in less than 16 months, nearly double the number documented during the previous administration's eight-year tenure. Authorities claim they are enforcing long-standing laws in a new digital environment, but critics argue this is a more restrictive approach to public speech. The controversy has sparked debate over the limits of free speech and the use of state power, with opposition leaders warning that excessive use of power risks undoing Ghana's democratic gains.