Former Akuapem South MP Osei Bonsu Amoah has spoken out against the use of Ghana's cybersecurity laws in cases involving social media users. He argues that the legislation should focus on serious crimes rather than what he describes as "petty things" such as sharing jokes online. Amoah made these comments on The Forum on Asaase Radio on Saturday, 19 September.
Amoah questioned the proportionality of a police operation used to arrest people suspected of publishing or communicating false information. He asked if such suspects posed a security threat that would warrant a large police presence, saying "If you think you need to investigate a person for publishing false information or communicating falsehood, does it mean that you wait till midnight or dawn, you send about 12 armed policemen to arrest such a person?"
Amoah's comments follow the arrest and remand of Salomey Awiti Baffoe, a 40-year-old senior nursing officer accused of aiding TikTok user Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, popularly known as "Ghana Jollof", to publish and circulate false news. Baffoe has pleaded not guilty to a charge of abetment of crime and was remanded into police custody. She is due to reappear before the Adenta Circuit Court on September 30.
The police allege that Baffoe helped recruit people to redistribute videos produced by Kodua and that financial transactions between the two were linked to activities under investigation. Police say Kodua is believed to be in the United Kingdom and has been declared wanted. Amoah also raised concerns about the number of women recently arrested in connection with online activities.
Amoah called for greater proportionality in the enforcement of laws governing online communication. He also referred to concerns raised by the parliamentary Minority over provisions governing online communication, saying some lawmakers had called for aspects of the law to be repealed. "What was left out of the criminal libel law is being abused," he said.
Ghana repealed its criminal libel and sedition laws in 2001, removing criminal penalties for defamation while retaining civil remedies. Amoah's comments form part of a wider debate over the balance between combating harmful online content and protecting freedom of expression, particularly following recent arrests linked to social media activity.
The allegations against Baffoe have not been established in court. The case has sparked concerns about the use of cybersecurity laws and the impact on freedom of expression in Ghana. The debate is ongoing, with many calling for a review of the laws governing online communication to ensure they are not being used to target individuals for sharing jokes or expressing opinions.
Key points
- Former MP O.B Amoah criticizes the use of Ghana's cybersecurity laws in social media cases.
- Amoah argues that the laws should focus on serious crimes, not "petty things" like sharing jokes online.
- The comments follow the arrest of Salomey Awiti Baffoe in connection with the "Ghana Jollof" case.
