Ghana's government has said threats against the life of President John Dramani Mahama and his children are criminality, not free speech.

Minister of State for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu made the remarks while speaking on behalf of the President at the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards in Accra. He told guests that threatening to kill a president and his children cannot be excused as expression.

"Threatening to kill a president and his children is not free speech. It is brazen criminality," he said, urging political leaders to avoid supporting violence or incitement for partisan gain.

Kwakye Ofosu also used the awards night to draw a line between free speech and incitement, telling journalists that the government does not demand favourable headlines from the media and does not expect reporters to give up editorial independence in exchange for partnership. He said the government looks forward to stringent and strident scrutiny of its actions, and to informed contributions to the national discourse from journalists and media practitioners.

The minister argued that leaders must be consistent in defending free expression, particularly when journalists face threats for publishing critical reports. He recalled that journalists in the north of the country had previously fled Ghana out of fear for their lives after publishing uncomfortable truths.

He added that the fight against hate speech must not serve as a pretext to restrict dissent or critical journalism, saying democracy relies on the freedom to disagree while rejecting deliberate incitement of hatred, violence and intolerance.

The GJA has documented more than 50 incidents of attacks, arrests and harassment of journalists between 2022 and January 2026, according to figures cited at the event.

[Source: chale.news](https://chale.news/kwakye-ofosu-threats-to-kill-mahama-children-brazen-criminality/) | [Source: winnebanews.com](https://winnebanews.com/2026/11/07/threatening-to-kill-the-president-and-his-children-is-criminality-not-free-speech/)