Manasseh Azure Awuni Accuses Mahama Administration of Misusing ‘False News’ Law in Open Letter

Accra, Ghana – By Seth Yeboah

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has publicly criticized President John Dramani Mahama over what he calls the misuse of Ghana’s law on publication of false news to detain government critics.

In a Facebook post published today titled “PRESIDENT MAHAMA, I FEEL ASHAMED,” Awuni said the current situation “is as if we are in a military regime,” citing the arrest and weeks-long detention of opposition NPP communicator Abronye and other citizens for comments and social media posts, including one about power outages.

Awuni contrasted the present with Mahama’s first term 2012-2016, which he said was marked by greater tolerance for free expression. “I told them you were not as vindictive as Akufo-Addo and his administration,” he wrote, adding that he had defended Mahama’s record on free speech during the previous administration.

“This is not the John Mahama I know, the Mahama whose high level of tolerance I could vouch for without batting an eyelid,” Awuni stated. He argued that because the president appointed the Inspector General of Police and the Director of the BNI, he bears responsibility for the actions of security agencies.

The journalist called on Mahama to intervene, describing the trend as “a blot in your presidency, a severe dent in your high reputation as a friend of the media and a guardian of free expression.” He said the law is being used “to settle political scores” rather than to address genuine cases of public panic, and noted that cases often collapse in court after detainees spend weeks in custody.

Awuni also pointed out that members of the governing party are not targeted in the same way, arguing that security agencies and some judges act “too eager to please the political authority headed by you.

” The provision in question is Section 208 of Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act, which criminalizes the publication of false news likely to cause fear and panic. Media rights groups have repeatedly called for its repeal or reform, saying it is prone to abuse.

As of publication time, the presidency had not issued a public response to the letter.