The Member of Parliament for Okaikoi South, Nana Akomea, says Ghana’s culture of freedom of expression is under government assault, calling on President J.E.A. Mills to condemn coercive institutions for trampling on the rights of the people. He indicated that the government cannot distance itself from what he said is the victimization of a New Patriotic Party (NPP) sympathizer on Thursday. The NPP sympathizer, Nana Darkwa, alleged on an Accra based radio station, Top Radio, that former President Jerry Rawlings burnt his house himself. Following the allegation, Kofi Adams, an aide to the former president reported to accusation to the police who stormed the studios of Top Radio and arrested Nana Darkwa, who was subsequently arraigned him before the Cocoa Affairs Court. He was charged with publishing false news with the intent to harm and cause panic among the public and has since been remanded in prison custody for two weeks at the Nsawam Prison. In view of this, Nana Akomea stated that if Mr Adams were not connected to the ruling government in anyway, it would have been impossible for him to instigate the police to effect the NPP sympathizer’s arrest in the manner in which it was done. He was speaking on Metro TV's Good Morning Ghana programme Friday. He urged the government to take the lead in ensuring that the freedom of expression is upheld. Defending the government, Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa said it would be unfair to draw the government into the issue and paint a picture of the ruling NDC government not being friendly to the media and free speech. He was a co-panelist on the programme. Mr Ablakwa expressed optimism that the judiciary would let justice prevail in the issue, admitting that judges err sometimes. Listen to the attached audio for more, By: Dorcas Efe Mensah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

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