Prominent lawyer and political commentator, Gabby Otchere-Darko has emphasized the need for courage in leadership, especially when it comes to safeguarding human rights and protecting democratic freedoms.
In a social media post on Wednesday May 20,2026, reacting to recent public discussions around a court ruling and free speech concerns, he stressed that timidity has no place in leadership within a democratic system.
According to him, protecting the dignity of the legal system requires individuals with conviction, courage, and strong patriotic commitment.
He commended the actions of Alexander Afenyo-Markin, praising him for challenging what he described as troubling judicial conduct linked to the handling of free expression issues.
Otchere-Darko cautioned against viewing the matter through partisan lenses, such as NPP versus NDC, arguing instead that the implications extend beyond party politics and touch on the broader health of Ghana’s democracy.
He further warned that in an era where younger generations, particularly Gen Z, actively express themselves on social media, any perception of state actions that could intimidate citizens into silence must be carefully avoided.
“Today it may be a political activist. Tomorrow it could be the journalist, the radio commentator, the student, the taxi driver, or the ordinary young Ghanaian with a smartphone and an opinion,” he noted.
While acknowledging the need for the law to deal firmly with wrongdoing, he stressed that justice must always be administered without compromising due process or fundamental human rights.
He added that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done, as it is essential to sustaining public trust in the legal system.
The comments add to ongoing public debate in Ghana over the balance between law enforcement, judicial independence, and freedom of expression in the digital age.
CREDIT: Mavis Fantevi
