The National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has called on political parties to caution and discipline their supporters to ensure public discourse remains respectful and within the boundaries of the law amid growing concerns over inflammatory political commentary.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, May 14, Vanderpuye stressed the need for responsible speech in Ghana’s political space, warning that unchecked insults and offensive commentary risk creating an unruly society.
According to him, political leaders must take deliberate steps to promote civility and mutual respect in national conversations, arguing that the increasing use of abusive language in public discourse could negatively influence younger generations who are exposed to such comments daily.
“If our children are growing up reading these things, where people can continually talk by heart and say anything, we are giving them an indication that we live in an unruly society, and that is what they will also do”, he said.
Vanderpuye also referenced Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act, describing it as “very punitive,” and advised political parties to encourage members to study and understand its provisions. He warned that failure to exercise restraint in public communication could expose individuals to serious legal consequences.
His comments come after the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, was remanded for two weeks over alleged misinformation and offensive public remarks against a judge.
The development has triggered political debate, with former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia criticising what he describes as growing intimidation against opposition members and warning that Ghana’s democracy and free speech are “under siege.”
