'Clamping down on free speech' will cost NDC votes in 2028 – Martin Kpebu

Lawyer Martin Kpebu has blamed the arrest of people over comments they make about the government for growing dissatisfaction with President John Dramani Mahama and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

According to him, Ghanaians value their freedom to express their opinions, and any attempt by the government to restrict that right could have serious political consequences.

Speaking on TV3’s The Key Points on October 24, 2026, Kpebu said the government’s handling of free speech was affecting the president’s standing among the public.

“Clamping down on free speech is what has done the President in. Ghanaians like free speech; the moment you touch free speech, they won't forgive you. As for the arrest, you have to tackle it, allow people,” he said.

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Despite his concerns, Kpebu predicted that the NDC would win the next general election. However, he expects the party’s votes to drop significantly compared with its performance in the 2024 elections.

“They will win, but the votes will drop drastically,” he said.

Kpebu made the remarks during a discussion about the NDC’s upcoming internal elections.

Meanwhile, Hamza Suhuyini, a member of the NDC communications team, has admitted that the party will miss the experience and institutional knowledge of its current National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, who is not seeking another term.

Suhuyini explained that Asiedu Nketiah’s contribution to the party goes beyond his years of experience, noting that he also possesses valuable knowledge of its history and operations.

“It is not just his experience, but institutional memory. We will not pretend that indeed we are not going to miss an important figure; we will,” he said.

However, he assured party members that efforts were underway to ensure the NDC continued its work smoothly following the chairman’s departure.

“We are doing everything to ensure that vacuum will be filled,” he said.

The NDC has officially closed nominations for its 2026 National Executive Elections, with 137 prospective candidates picking up nomination forms to contest 14 positions.

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