Free speech is dead under President Nana Akufo-Addo, former President John Mahama has observed.

Addressing the chiefs and people in the Ahafo region as part of his Building Ghana Tour, Mr Mahama said the president is also vindictive and autocratic.

Comparing the situation under his government to that of President Akufo-Addo, the flagbearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress said: "At the time I was president, we allowed people to speak freely, and, so, if things were not going well in schools, the headmasters and the teachers could complain and talk". 

"Unfortunately, that changed when the Nana Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government came in".

"It was a very autocratic, vindictive government, and, so, if you were a teacher or a headmaster and things were not going well in your school or the educational system, if you talked about it, they would either sack you or they will transfer you. And, so, it instituted a culture of fear amongst public servants," Mr Mahama said.

He also said: "In any country, the right to free speech is very important."

“They say when there’s a race between lies and the truth, the lies take an early lead, but eventually, at the finish line, the truth will be vindicated and the truth will win in any democracy".