The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and some media freedom supporters condemned media star Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah's abrupt detention by security personnel on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, but he was later freed.

There was a great deal of outrage when Afrifa Mensah, host of the well-known social media program "FOR THE RECORDS," was allegedly taken up.

General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua demanded his immediate release, calling the detention a clear assault on press freedom and democracy.

“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,” Kodua stated.

This campaign was joined by other prominent NPP leaders. After mounting public pressure and an online campaign demanding his release, Afrifa Mensah was freed later that evening.

His release was confirmed by a Facebook post from NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye.

“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,”