Ntim Fordjour’s comment is reckless but criminalising speech is a terrible way to govern a democracy – Barker-Vormawor

Convener of the Fix The Country Movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has said he is opposed to any attempt to criminalise speech irrespective of the pronouncements being “foolish or false”.

Barker-Vormawor makes the point that criminalising speech is a terrible way to govern a democracy.

In a Facebook post in response to the attempted arrest of Assin South Lawmaker Rev John Ntim Fordjour over the aircraft with drugs comment, he said, “I think Ntim Fordjour’s comments are reckless, sensational, and unbecoming of an MP. But criminalising speech, even foolish and false speech, is a terrible way to govern a democracy. It makes martyrs out of mischief-makers and heroes out of half-truth hustlers.

“We must resist the urge to criminalise expression simply because it offends our intelligence, our egos or paints a bad international picture of us.

“Speech must be decriminalised — not because speech has no consequences, but because not all consequences should involve a prison cell. Accountability, yes. Arrest, no.”

On Wednesday, April 9, officials of the National Intelligence Bureau attempted to arrest Ntim Fordjour in his home over the aircraft with drugs pronouncement.

According to Government Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the standoff erupted because Rev Fordjour refused to cooperate.

“NIB officials are currently at Ntim Fordjour’s residence. They have an  arrest warrant. He is refusing to cooperate. They have given him time to cooperate, failing which they will act,” he said.

 

Below is Barker-Vormawor’s full post…

Of Cocaine, Private Jets, and the Curious Case of Making Martyrs.

Let’s set the week in perspective.

1. Yesterday, the Government “flirted” with the idea of arresting Ntim Fordjour.
2. The man who has lately taken to Press conferences like it’s a WhatsApp group — forwarding unverified claims with all the confidence of an auntie at a naming ceremony.
3. Now, to be fair, the Government has come out swinging, pointing to flight records, mechanical faults, and, essentially, basic logic, to explain why this conspiracy theory doesn’t quite fly — pun intended. So far, Ntim’s story has more holes than a pothole-riddled Accra road in the rainy season. No one serious takes his claims seriously.
4. But here’s where things get dicey.
5. Instead of handling this through Parliament’s privileges process — which is designed precisely to hold MPs accountable for reckless speech — the state’s first instinct was to dial the arrest option. Because nothing says “this is definitely not true” like hauling someone off in handcuffs and giving them a hero’s publicity.
6. Let me be clear: I think Ntim Fordjour’s comments are reckless, sensational, and unbecoming of an MP. But criminalising speech, even foolish and false speech, is a terrible way to govern a democracy. It makes martyrs out of mischief-makers and heroes out of half-truth hustlers.
7. We must resist the urge to criminalise expression simply because it offends our intelligence, our egos or paints a bad international picture of us. Speech must be decriminalised — not because speech has no consequences, but because not all consequences should involve a prison cell. Accountability, yes. Arrest, no.
8. And when an elected official abuses their platform, let’s use the tools democracy has provided: censure, privilege committees, public debate — not police cells and patrol pickups.
9. Because if we keep this up, we may just end up jailing every Ghanaian with a Twitter account over next four years. Akufo tried and failed. He shouldn’t be our example.
10. In any event, I assure you, the prisons are already full. Isn’t that why we are letting the Chinese go?
11. Charley, I have been in jail so many times to know it’s inhumanity. I pray we reserve it for true nationwreckers like Akufo-Addo, Ofori-Atta, Gabby Otchere, Dummy, Bediatuo.. hell, the whole mafia and associates!
12. Focus NDC! Focus on thieves la!! More of ORAL, less of Reverends.

A word to the wise…..!

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