Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) running mate Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh has called on Ghanaians to promote respectful and responsible political discourse, cautioning against turning democratic freedoms into a justification for personal attacks.
Dr Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, made the call in a Facebook post on Tuesday, August 11, in which he reflected on the role of criticism and freedom of expression in Ghana’s democracy.
According to him, citizens have every right to question political leaders, parties and public policies, but that right should be exercised without attacking the dignity of individuals.
NAPO argued that political criticism and personal insults serve fundamentally different purposes.
He explained that constructive criticism focuses on identifying weaknesses and encouraging discussions on how they can be addressed, while insults are often intended to humiliate, provoke or silence opponents.
He said political discourse becomes more productive when disagreements focus on ideas, policies and decisions rather than the personal characteristics of those involved.
The former Education Minister expressed concern about what he described as the growing tendency for political conversations to focus on individuals rather than the issues they raise.
He noted that political opponents are sometimes attacked based on their intelligence, physical appearance, background or other personal characteristics instead of having their arguments properly examined.
According to NAPO, such a culture could have wider consequences because young people often look to political leaders and public figures as examples of how democratic participation should be conducted.
He therefore urged political actors and citizens to demonstrate that disagreement does not require hostility.
NAPO stressed that promoting respect in political discussions should not be interpreted as a call for people to remain silent or avoid holding leaders accountable.
He maintained that public officials and political leaders must remain open to scrutiny because criticism is an inevitable part of public service and democratic governance.
He said the key issue is how such criticism is delivered.
The former NPP running mate urged Ghanaians to challenge opposing views firmly while maintaining respect for the people who hold those views.
NAPO said Ghana’s democratic culture would benefit from political disagreements being settled through strong arguments and competing ideas rather than personal attacks.
He further emphasised that freedom of expression carries a corresponding responsibility to exercise that freedom responsibly.
His comments come amid ongoing debates about the tone of political conversations in Ghana, particularly on social media, where political disagreements can quickly develop into personal attacks.
NAPO’s message is that robust political debate and respect for opposing views can coexist, and that Ghana’s democracy is better served when citizens focus on issues and ideas while holding leaders accountable without resorting to insults.
