His post on 21 May, 2026, is both a personal reflection and a public call to action, urging the president to restore the freedoms that defined his earlier tenure.
In his official Facebook post, Manasseh Azure Awuni wrote: “Mr President, I feel ashamed.” He explained that during Akufo-Addo’s presidency, he consistently spoke out against the suppression of free expression and reminded Ghanaians of the tolerance they had enjoyed under Mahama’s first term.
He believed Mahama was not vindictive and had created an atmosphere where even toxic criticism was tolerated.
However, Azure lamented that the current administration has allowed a climate of intimidation to flourish. He pointed to the abuse of the law against publishing false information, which has led to arrests and detentions of opposition figures and ordinary citizens.
He cited cases such as Abronye and others who spent weeks in custody for harmless comments, including one person detained simply for posting about power outages.
For Azure, this represents a severe dent in Mahama’s reputation as a friend of the media and a guardian of free expression.
He argued that the responsibility lies squarely with the president, since the IGP, BNI Director, and other political appointees who oversee these actions were appointed by Mahama himself. Calling them to order, he insisted, is not interference but a defense of democracy.
He warned that the eagerness of security agencies and some judges to please political authority has created a dangerous imbalance, where opposition voices are targeted while ruling party members escape scrutiny.
Azure drew on history to illustrate his point, recalling how the law against false information was originally intended for rare situations—such as the nationwide panic caused by false earthquake warnings years ago. Today, he argued, the law is being weaponized to silence critics and settle political scores.
He stressed that charges brought under this law often collapse in court because they lack legal merit, yet the damage of detention and intimidation remains.
His message was clear: if suppression of free speech was wrong under Akufo-Addo, it must be equally wrong under Mahama. He urged the president not to feign ignorance, reminding him that “the buck stops with you.”
For Azure, Mahama’s legacy is at stake, and defending free expression is essential to preserving the integrity of Ghana’s democracy.
In conclusion, Manasseh Azure’s post is a heartfelt plea for consistency and accountability. By contrasting Mahama’s earlier tolerance with the current climate of repression, he challenges the president to act decisively and restore the freedoms that once distinguished his leadership. His words resonate as both a warning and a call to uphold the constitutional rights of Ghanaians.
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