Legal practitioner and journalist Samson Lardi Anyenini has questioned what he describes as the government's sudden concern over offensive speech, arguing that President John Mahama and the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration benefited from misinformation and insults during election campaigns.

Commenting on the recent arrests and prosecution of social media users over political commentary, Mr Anyenini said the trend should not come as a surprise to the President and his officials.

"I don't know why they are shocked. Shocked over this growing trend. Really? It begs the question. Why the sudden outrage?" he said.

According to the TV host, the NDC and leaders of the current government were among the biggest beneficiaries of the misinformation and insults that characterised the last two election campaigns.

"Never once did they express revulsion or publicly rebuke their serial callers and social media activists who insulted, vilified, and maligned almost every prominent politician in the NPP as well as disrespected traditional chiefs and elders across this country," he added.

Mr Anyenini argued that political actors cannot encourage such conduct during campaigns and later condemn it.

"You cannot nurture a monster for political expediency during elections and then feign horror when it begins to bite everyone around you," he stated.