Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has endorsed former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia‘s call for the prosecution of an National Democratic Congress (NDC) branch organiser to be discontinued, describing the legal action as harassment.
In a Facebook post, the lawyer said: “To whom it may concern. Stop the harassment. Definitely don’t do it in Dr Bawumia‘s name.”
His comments followed a statement by Dr Bawumia urging the Ghana Police Service and the Attorney-General to withdraw the case against Prince Aboagye, an NDC branch organiser in the Agona West Constituency.
Mr Aboagye has been charged with offensive conduct conducive to a breach of the peace and the publication of false news over alleged comments he made about Dr Bawumia on TikTok.
He has pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of GH¢200,000 with three sureties, one of whom must justify the bail with landed property. The case has been adjourned to August 19, 2026.
In a statement issued through his Communications Directorate on July 22, Dr Bawumia said he neither lodged a complaint against Mr Aboagye nor authorised anyone to initiate criminal proceedings on his behalf.
He stressed that he does not support the arrest or prosecution of any Ghanaian in his name over speech.
According to Dr Bawumia, political leaders should counter insults and false allegations with facts rather than resort to the criminal justice system.
“The answer to offensive speech is better speech, and the answer to falsehood is truth, not handcuffs, courtrooms and crushing bail conditions imposed on ordinary Ghanaians,” he said.
He therefore appealed to the Ghana Police Service and the Attorney-General to discontinue the prosecution and any similar cases purportedly undertaken on his behalf.
Dr Bawumia also said he had forgiven Mr Aboagye and wished him well, adding that Ghana’s democracy is strengthened when citizens are able to express opposing views without fear.
Court proceedings indicate that the complainant in the case is the Ghana Police Service, which alleges that it became aware of a TikTok video published on the account @atutulagh, allegedly operated by Mr Aboagye, containing false and offensive allegations against the former Vice President.
