The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has urged civil society groups and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to speak out against the recent arrests and detention of some journalists.

In a statement issued on Friday, the party expressed worry over what it describes as “loud silence” by the moral society groups on the recent arrests and prosecution.

“These groups should take note of the rising political instability in the subregion and speak out now, and not wait until matters get out of hands before they host a series of belated interventions and seminars on what went wrong,” the party said.

The party added, “We take this opportunity to call on these groups to speak out against the blatant acts of repression being perpetrated against our young democracy.”

The NDC believes that the recent arrest and detention of some journalists in the country is an attempt by the government to instil fear in Ghanaians opposed to the E-levy.

According to the NDC, the government is orchestrating the arrests to douse the impact of the ‘Yentua Demonstration’ against the E-levy.

“The NDC assures the despotic regime of Akufo-Addo, that we shall not relent in our effort both within and outside Parliament to stop the introduction of e-levy,” the NDC noted.

This follows the arrest of Accra FM’s Kwabena Bobie Ansah on Thursday night after he had ended his show.

The Broadcaster was later charged with publishing false news and offensive conduct.

He has since been granted bail of GH¢50,000 with two sureties.

A police report sighted by myjoyonline noted that Mr Bobie Ansah, on January 1, this year, accused the presidential spouses of granting themselves “state lands at AU Village, around the Kotoka International Airport for the construction of Rebecca Foundation”.

The police said the presenter further called the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, “a thief and that she has stolen state land around the Kotoka International Airport,” a statement he knew was “likely to occasion the breach of peace”.