Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, says he was “beaten mercilessly” under the Akufo-Addo administration, recounting his experience during a Parliamentary debate on free speech and press freedom.
Speaking on the floor, Dr. Jinapor defended President John Dramani Mahama’s record on civil liberties, insisting there are no threats to freedom of speech or press freedom under the current administration.
He stressed that citizens who communicate within the Constitution will have no issues with the state.
“It must be put on record without provocation that the Mahama government respects free expression,” he told the House.
He argued that recent arrests were linked to threats against the President, which would trigger action by security agencies even in the most advanced democracies.
Dr. Jinapor cited the case of a young woman arrested for threatening President Mahama. “When you threaten the president, even in the most democratic country, it is a comment on the security agencies to invite you, pick you up, or act in accordance with the law.
That is exactly what has been happening,” he said.
To counter claims that arrests had suddenly spiked, the Minister recalled past incidents under the former President Akufo-Addo government.
He mentioned a former minister picked up after comments about “it has worked” and referenced an arrest under President Kufuor.
He then turned to his personal ordeal.
He recounted March 28, 2018, when former President Mahama condemned the police’s high-handed response to citizens who massed up at police headquarters in solidarity with arrested NDC General Secretary Koko Anyedoho.
Dr. Jinapor said he was present that night. “I was beaten. I’m not kidding. I went there that evening to show solidarity because, at that time, President Mahama had gone to the CID headquarters to observe what was happening,” he said.
“They started pouring hot water with a chemical. They started beating us. I’m being frank with you. I had to run away that day. This is on record. I was beaten mercilessly under Akufo-Addo’s administration,” Dr. Jinapor added.
While aligning with the Minority Leader that Parliament should encourage press freedom and free speech, he drew a line at threats, adding,“Freedom of speech is not tantamount to threatening the president,” he said.
“President Mahama will go on record as one of the most tolerant presidents ever in the history of this country. You do not have the freedom to threaten the life of the president.”
By Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor
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