Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akyem Oda, has questioned President John Dramani Mahama’s assertion that he is unaffected by insults, arguing that the verbal attacks directed at the First Lady, Lordina Mahama, may have influenced the President’s decision to call for a national dialogue on abusive political discourse.
According to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) legislator, although President Mahama may have developed a thick skin against political insults over the years, the same cannot necessarily be said of his wife, who has recently been subjected to verbal attacks.
Mr Acquah made the remarks in a Facebook post in which he expressed surprise at the President’s comments about his ability to withstand insults.
His reaction comes after President Mahama, while addressing members of the Ghanaian community in New York, reiterated that he was not bothered by personal insults, describing himself as having a ‘crocodile skin’.
The President, however, called for a national conversation on how Ghana should address insults, abusive language and harmful content on social media, particularly on platforms such as TikTok.
In his Facebook post, Hon. Acquah suggested that the President’s personal resilience should not be confused with an inability to recognise the emotional impact of insults on people close to him.
“I am surprised at the President’s denial of the effects of insults on him. Yes, he could wear a ‘crocodile’ skin, but after listening to some of the recent verbal assaults on our First Lady, I bet you, the President can’t be that insensitive to his dear wife,” he wrote.
The Akyem Oda MP believes the recent verbal attacks against the First Lady could be a significant factor behind the President’s decision to initiate a national forum to address the growing concerns surrounding political insults and abusive language.
He argued that the President, despite his public assertion that he can withstand insults, would naturally be concerned about the impact of such attacks on his wife.
Acquah raises concerns over attacks on First Lady
Mr Acquah further suggested that the First Lady, although associated with politics through her husband’s position, may not necessarily possess the emotional resilience required to endure the nature of insults currently being directed at her.
He maintained that being married to a politician does not automatically mean that an individual is prepared to withstand personal attacks, particularly those targeting family members.
“The First Lady may be a politician by association, but she may not have that thick skin for what is currently going on,” he stated.
His comments highlight concerns about the personal consequences of abusive political discourse, particularly when attacks extend beyond elected officials to their spouses and families.
MP reconsiders his position on national forum
Interestingly, Mr Acquah disclosed that he initially did not see the need for the proposed national forum on political insults.
However, following what he described as recent verbal assaults against the First Lady, he said he had reconsidered his position and now believes the forum could serve an important purpose.
“Guys, I didn’t see the need for that national forum initially, but I think we need to save our First Lady,” he added.
The MP’s latest comments mark a shift in his earlier position on the proposed national dialogue.
On September 24, Mr Acquah had reportedly argued that the proposed national dialogue would not resolve the problem of political insults unless specific individuals responsible for what he considered abusive political commentary were addressed.
His latest statement, however, places particular emphasis on the potential impact of such insults on the First Lady.
Mahama calls for national dialogue on social media regulation
President Mahama’s call for a national stakeholder engagement has generated discussions about the appropriate balance between freedom of expression and the need to address abusive content on social media.
During his engagement with Ghanaians in New York, the President explained that although he personally had no problem with being insulted, the country needed to collectively determine how to manage abusive language and other forms of harmful content on digital platforms.
He also expressed concern about the possible excesses of law enforcement agencies in dealing with social media users, stressing the importance of establishing clear guidelines.
The President has tasked the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) with bringing relevant stakeholders together to discuss the matter.
The proposed engagement is expected to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to examine the role of the police, the limits of freedom of expression and possible approaches to regulating social media content.
Growing debate over political insults
Mr Acquah’s intervention adds to the ongoing national debate about the increasing use of insults and abusive language in Ghana’s political discourse.
While some public figures have called for stricter measures to address offensive commentary, others have emphasised the importance of protecting freedom of expression and preventing excessive restrictions on political speech.
The Akyem Oda MP’s latest remarks introduce another dimension to the debate by drawing attention to the possible emotional consequences of political insults for the families of public officials.
His appeal to protect the First Lady also raises broader questions about the extent to which political disagreements should extend to the families of elected leaders.
As discussions surrounding the proposed national forum continue, Mr Acquah’s comments underscore the need to consider not only the political implications of abusive language but also its potential effects on individuals who find themselves caught up in political controversies.
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