NPP Condemns Camilla Alhassan’s Conviction, Announces Appeal Support

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Published July 17 2026

Published at: 10:44am

Story by Saibu Terry

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly condemned the conviction and sentencing of Madam Camilla Alhassan, describing the decision as a threat to freedom of expression and Ghana’s democratic credentials.

In a statement issued on July 16, 2026, and signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party expressed “deep shock, outrage and profound concern” over the Accra Circuit Court’s decision to sentence Madam Alhassan to one year in prison after she was convicted of offensive conduct in connection with comments she made online about President John Dramani Mahama.

According to the NPP, the imprisonment of a citizen over expressive conduct raises serious constitutional concerns regarding the right to freedom of speech as guaranteed under Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution.

The party argued that while legal formalities may have been followed, the case represents an erosion of civil liberties and sends a worrying signal about growing intolerance in the country.

The statement further maintained that if the President believed he had been defamed, the appropriate legal avenue should have been a civil defamation suit rather than criminal prosecution and imprisonment.

The opposition party accused the government of deploying state institutions, including the Police, the Attorney General’s Department and the courts, to suppress dissent and intimidate citizens from expressing opposing political views.

The NPP also criticised the manner in which Madam Alhassan was reportedly treated during her arrest, detention and appearance in court, describing it as “heavy-handed” and “dehumanising.” It argued that such treatment undermines public confidence in law enforcement and offends the dignity of the individual.

As part of its response, the party called on civil society organisations, the Ghana Bar Association, the media, the National Peace Council and the diplomatic community to speak against what it termed the criminalisation of free expression and to defend constitutional freedoms.

The NPP also announced that it would support every lawful effort to challenge the conviction, confirming that an immediate appeal would be pursued.

The party pledged to stand by Madam Alhassan and her legal team until all available legal remedies have been exhausted.

Concluding the statement, the NPP cautioned against what it described as a return to periods in Ghana’s history when citizens allegedly faced persecution for expressing opposing views, insisting that “free speech is not a crime” and urging the government to protect democratic principles and constitutional rights.