The 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) running mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has urged Ghanaians to uphold respect and responsibility in political discourse, warning against using democratic freedoms as a justification for insults and personal attacks.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, August 11, Dr Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, said democracy gives citizens the right to criticise leaders, political parties and ideas, but such criticism should not undermine the dignity of those being criticised.

“Criticism and insult are not the same. Criticism identifies what is wrong and can help us think about what must improve. Insult seeks only to humiliate, provoke or silence. One strengthens public debate. The other weakens it,” he said.

NAPO expressed concern that political discussions were increasingly shifting from issues to personal attacks based on individuals’ intelligence, appearance or background.

He warned that such conduct could have a negative influence on young people who look to political leaders as examples of democratic engagement.

The former Manyhia South MP stressed that respect should not be mistaken for silence or an attempt to shield public officials from scrutiny.

“Respect has never meant silence. It has never meant that elders, leaders or public officials are beyond criticism,” he said, urging citizens to challenge opposing views without treating those who hold them as enemies.

Dr Opoku Prempeh said Ghana’s democratic culture would be strengthened when political disagreements were settled through robust debate and competing ideas rather than personal attacks.

He emphasised that freedom of expression must be accompanied by responsibility, stating: “Democracy requires freedom of expression, but it also requires responsibility of expression.”