The 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) running mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has urged Ghanaians to exercise restraint and responsibility in political discourse, warning against using democratic freedoms to justify insults and personal attacks.

Dr Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, said democracy gives citizens the right to challenge political leaders, parties and ideas but does not justify attacks that undermine the dignity of individuals.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, 11 August, he drew a distinction between criticism and insult.

“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 debates were increasingly shifting from substantive issues to attacks on individuals based on their intelligence, appearance or background.

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

The former Energy Minister stressed that respect should not be interpreted as an expectation that public officials or political leaders should be shielded from criticism.

“Respect has never meant silence. It has never meant that elders, leaders or public officials are beyond criticism,” he said.

According to him, criticism is an unavoidable part of public service, but political actors and citizens should learn to challenge opposing views without treating those who hold different opinions as enemies.

He argued that Ghana’s democratic culture would be strengthened when political disagreements were settled through the exchange of ideas rather than personal attacks.

NAPO also urged citizens to balance their right to freedom of expression with responsibility when expressing political views.

“Democracy requires freedom of expression, but it also requires responsibility of expression,” he said.