Aspiring National Communications Officer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has alleged that the government is presiding over a growing pattern of arrests linked to alleged insults, claiming the practice has spread from social media platforms to community-level radio and information-centre discussions.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, Mr Aboagye said the number of people allegedly arrested over insulting comments was far greater than the public might realise.

“The number of people this government has arrested because of insult, you have no idea,” he said.

He claimed the NPP had been providing support to individuals affected by such cases and therefore had access to what he described as a list of people who had been arrested.

“We are the ones who provide them with support, so we have the list,” he added.

According to Mr Aboagye, some of the alleged arrests involve social media users, particularly TikTokers.

“Most of the TikTokers’ issue, you haven’t heard,” he said.

Mr Aboagye further alleged that the practice of arresting people over insulting comments has now reached the district level.

He claimed some district police commanders were allegedly targeting citizens who participate in community information-centre programmes and community radio discussions.

“In fact now, at the district level, the district police commanders have also made it an enterprise,” he alleged.

He claimed that individuals could be arrested after speaking during such engagements.

“No, you speak, they pick you up from the community, they put you in and they tell you, ‘You know, when this is taken to court, you would be jailed?’” he said.

Mr Aboagye described the alleged practice as having become an “enterprise”, suggesting that arrests were no longer isolated incidents but part of a wider pattern.

Mr Aboagye stated that he does not personally condone insulting behaviour.

He said his Christian faith and experience as a Sunday school teacher had shaped his attitude towards abusive language.

“I am a Methodist, I have been a Sunday school teacher for a very long time, I abhor insults,” he said.

He also invoked his upbringing, describing himself as a “pure thoroughbred Akuapim boy” who does not engage in insults.

“I don’t insult,” he stressed.

Nevertheless, Mr Aboagye argued that his opposition to insulting language should not be confused with support for criminalising insults.

“But insult is not a crime,” he stated.

Mr Aboagye’s allegations come in the wake of the NPP’s major demonstration in Accra on Thursday.

Thousands of party members, supporters and leaders took to the streets for a protest dubbed “Democracy Under Attack”, accusing the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of undermining Ghana’s democratic principles and weakening key state institutions.

The demonstration formed part of the opposition party’s broader campaign against what it describes as threats to democratic governance, institutional independence and the rule of law.

The protesters also raised concerns about the use of state institutions and what they regard as the selective application of state power.

At the conclusion of the demonstration, NPP leaders presented a petition at the forecourt of Jubilee House, the seat of Ghana’s presidency.

The party was represented by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, General Secretary Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and the Chief of Staff to NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

The NPP had earlier submitted a separate petition to the Supreme Court.