New Patriotic Party (NPP) communicator Richard Gyamfi has questioned President John Mahama’s current position on insults directed at public officials, arguing that similar political rhetoric has featured in Ghana’s political discourse over the years.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, Mr Gyamfi said he was not defending the use of insults but wanted clarity on when President Mahama came to regard such language as unacceptable in political engagements.
“I am not condoning insult. I am just saying that when did we realise this?” he asked.
Mr Gyamfi said political actors from different parties and administrations had, at various times, used strong language against their opponents and public officials.
He cited remarks he attributed to President Mahama during his political career, including the description of a group from an ethnic community as “Sakawa mafia” and the use of the word “baloney” in reference to the Minority.
He also referred to past exchanges involving the Office of the Special Prosecutor and former government officials, arguing that the use of harsh political language was not limited to one political party.
However, the host, Moro Awudu, cautioned against framing the discussion around who started the practice, noting that political parties had all been involved in the use of provocative language.
Mr Gyamfi maintained that his concern was President Mahama’s present position and whether it was consistent with his previous political record.
He said the President had himself been subjected to harsh criticism during his political career and questioned the basis for pursuing new measures or actions over insults against public officials.
The discussion centred on the broader issue of political language and the responsibility of political actors to maintain standards of public discourse.
