The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, has criticised the handling of the case involving TikToker Camilla Alhassan, saying she has not been treated fairly.

Speaking exclusively to Classfmonline.com, Nana B stressed that while the NPP does not endorse abusive or vulgar language against political leaders, that should not be used to justify what he described as attempts to suppress free speech.

"We as a party, we do not condone and we do not accept any foul language," he said.

He was, however, quick to draw a distinction between condemning offensive language and criminalising expression.

"That is not to say that we must as a nation take steps to criminalize free speech," he said.

Nana B argued that Ghana had deliberately removed criminal libel from its laws and warned against what he believes are attempts to bring it back through other means.

"Criminal libel law was repealed from our law books years ago," he underlined.

"And any attempt to clandestinely reintroduce the criminal libel law into our criminal jurisprudence is condemnable.

"And it is becoming one too many."

He also accused the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration of departing from positions it once strongly defended while in opposition.

Referring to a 2022 letter written by then opposition leader John Mahama to then President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Nana B said he was surprised by what he described as a reversal in principle now that Mahama is President.

He recalled Mr Mahama saying "among many other things, that the president then was superintending over the criminalization of free speech. And he cited three instances".

Nana B lamented that President Mahama's crackdown has been excessive.

"Today, I can count as many as 30 people or Ghanaians who have been either incarcerated, they have been arrested, they have been kept on remand, as many as 30. And that is 10 times more than what you offered. So we are surprised," he said.

Nana B maintained that Camilla Alhassan's case raises broader concerns about freedom of expression and the consistency of the government's position on civil liberties. 

TikToker Camilla Alhassan has been sentenced to a year in prison for publication of false news and offensive conduct aimed at President John Mahama, to which she pleaded guilty.