Let's be decorous in an era of free speech

Once upon a time, in the life of our dear nation Ghana , the mere expression of one’s opinion could easily culminate in one’s arrest, molestation and sometimes imprisonment and detention.

Those were the periods that have been described by some journalists and social commentators as an era of the culture of silence. Journalists like Kabral Blay Amihere, Kweku Baako, Kwesi Pratt, Haruna Atta, Margaret Amoakohene among others were among the worst victims.

It was in the light of this that, on assumption of office, in January 2001, the NPP government under the able leadership of His Excellency President J.A. Kufuor hearkened to the cries of civil society and repealed the criminal libel and seditious laws. Freedom of speech has since being given an impetus with the introduction of such good governance concepts as the People’s Assembly, Regional Meet-The-Press encounters, etc. I believe the government should be patted on the shoulders for such initiatives at ensuring press freedom and free speech.

It behoves on all Ghanaians to cherish this freedom and guard it cautiously so that we do not revert to our previous predicaments. Doing so requires that we become decorous in our choice of words. Diction and mannerisms matter a lot in our side of the world especially when speaking to the elderly.

It is in the light of the above that I find ‘Dr’ Asem Fofro and ‘Evangelist’ Oppong Daniel’s behaviours very disgusting, appalling and non-Ghanaian in character. Why have some of us thrown our cherished culture of reverence for the elderly to the dogs and marines? In some years past, these silly behaviours and vituperations would have attracted identification hair cuts, heavy bashings and sometimes imprisonments.

People seldom get the opportunity to talk to their M.P’s, D.C.E.s and even Assembly Members in other dispensations, including some advanced democracies. For a President of a developing country like Ghana to condescend to such a level of subjecting himself to be vetted by his people is something that should be nurtured and preserved by all. It is not surprising therefore that President J.A. Kufuor was the first to subject himself to be reviewed under the African Peer Review Mechanism.

I shall be very worried but not surprised if cheap, populists, self-acclaimed social commentators and opposition political party activists rise to the defense of these social miscreants.

As for ‘Asem Fofro’, it has been his stock-in-trade. It will be recalled that at the last People’s Assembly at Cape Coast , he made similar wild allegations about his wife being deprived of the benefits of the NHIS. He later back-tracked and even apologised. This serial liar and moron and others of his sort should not be tolerated.

We all should be reminded that freedom of speech is not tantamount to freedom to abusive speech. People should not be encouraged to make unguarded and loose talks under the guise of freedom of speech. Let us all endeavour to be decorous in our speech in this era of free speech and press freedom.

Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.