Media personality Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah has been released after his sudden arrest by security operatives on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, triggered a wave of condemnation from opposition figures and supporters.
The host of popular social media show, “FOR THE RECORDS”, was picked up on Wednesday (19 March) under unclear circumstances, leading to strong condemnation from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and media freedom advocates.
The NPP described the arrest as a direct attack on democracy and press freedom, with General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua demanding his immediate release.
In a social media post, Justin Frimpong Kodua wrote:
“The arrest of Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah by the NDC government is a dangerous attack on democracy and freedom of speech! Ghana must not descend into tyranny,”
Minority Leader and Effutu MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin also weighed in, calling for tolerance and warning against the intimidation of government critics.
“It started with Abronye. Now it’s Okatakyie Afrifa. The NDC government must be tolerant. Using State Security to intimidate opponents is not good for our democracy!” he noted.
After mounting public pressure and an online campaign demanding his release, Afrifa Mensah was freed later that evening.
Confirming the release, NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye criticized the arrest, calling it unwarranted and unnecessary.
He posted on Facebook:
“We have just left the premises of National Security, and it is very disappointing to say that the arrest of Okatakyie Afrifa after his exams this evening was completely unnecessary and unwarranted. Thanks to the efforts of several individuals who intervened, he has been released. Free speech cannot be suppressed under the guise of an investigation. If that is the case, then National Security should be prepared to arrest all of us,”
