Ghanaian man arrested over social media post

A Ghanaian man with name Seth Asante-Asiedu, popularly known as Kwaku Rafik, has been
arrested by the police last Thursday at about 3:30 am over a Twitter post he made on the
economy.
The post reads; “Investment firms are struggling, you know who’s next? I believe
commercial banks. It will be difficult for them to pay depositors. Moody’s has downgraded
major banks in Ghana because of their risk levels.” This message was tweeted on November 6,
2022.

The reasons for his arrest regarding the post are immediately unknown but many believe it may
have something to do with causing fear among depositors whose monies are with the commercial
banks and this could lead to panic withdrawals. Whiles others believe the arrest was
unjustified and it is a type of the ruling government’s reign of terror and an act of cowardice.
Sam Nartey George, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Pampram and commentator for the
opposition, National Democratic Congress (NDC), has shown indifference towards the arrest
and calls the action by the police an act of oppression by the government.

The NDC MP said, “This government is afraid of its tail. How do you arrest a citizen for stating the obvious? Have
our banks not been downgraded? Are our Ministers not partying in Qatar? What senseless
tyranny is this? Bow your heads in shame. Cowards hiding behind state power!“
Meanwhile, several Ghanaians have taken to social media to express their displeasure about the
arrest and demand the release of Asante-Asiedu. The #FreeKwakwuNow campaign is
currently trending as number one on Twitter.
Esther Tetteh
18Plus4NDC