President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concerns over the criminalisation of legitimate criticism, political commentary, satire, and dissent in Ghana. In a letter to the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), he emphasized that while hate speech, threats, incitement, and other unlawful conduct must be addressed, the response should not undermine freedom of expression. The President noted that the media environment has changed significantly, with bloggers, content creators, influencers, and users of platforms such as TikTok increasingly shaping public discourse.
President Mahama has tasked the MFWA and GJA to jointly convene a national stakeholder engagement on hate speech, abusive language, and other harmful content on social media and emerging digital platforms. The engagement is expected to examine the adequacy of Ghana's existing legal, regulatory, and institutional framework and clarify the distinction between lawful criticism and unlawful speech. The President also wants the process to consider public education, media and digital literacy, professional and ethical standards for online content creators, accessible complaints and redress mechanisms, as well as alternatives to arrest and prosecution.
The President's concerns come as the media environment continues to evolve, with many online content creators commanding substantial audiences and influence but may not operate under recognised editorial standards or clear accountability mechanisms. He expressed worry that disproportionate arrests over mere criticism or politically charged commentary could be counterproductive, create "undeserving martyrs," and undermine public confidence in state institutions. President Mahama is therefore calling for a coherent national roadmap that protects freedom of expression while ensuring an appropriate and proportionate response to genuinely harmful digital content.
The national stakeholder engagement will involve a broad range of stakeholders, including the National Media Commission, Ghana Police Service, civil society organisations, traditional media organisations, content creators, bloggers and influencers, legal and human-rights experts, religious bodies, and relevant state regulatory and security institutions. The MFWA and GJA have been asked to submit a proposed framework and timetable for the stakeholder engagement, together with recommendations arising from the process, for the President's consideration.
President Mahama's initiative is aimed at promoting responsible digital communication and addressing the challenges posed by harmful online content. The President's letter to the MFWA and GJA highlights the need for a balanced approach that addresses the concerns of freedom of expression while ensuring that online content does not promote hate speech, incitement, or other unlawful conduct. The engagement is expected to propose practical guidelines for law-enforcement agencies and recommend policy, legislative, regulatory, and non-legislative measures for addressing harmful online content.
The issue of hate speech and harmful online content has become a pressing concern in Ghana, with many stakeholders calling for a more effective approach to address the problem. President Mahama's move is seen as a step towards promoting a more nuanced and balanced approach to addressing the issue. The President's emphasis on protecting freedom of expression while ensuring a proportionate response to genuinely harmful digital content is expected to guide the stakeholder engagement process.
The MFWA and GJA will play a crucial role in convening the national stakeholder engagement and providing recommendations for addressing harmful online content. The two organisations are expected to work closely with a broad range of stakeholders to develop a coherent national roadmap that balances the need to protect freedom of expression with the need to address genuinely harmful digital content. The outcome of the engagement is expected to have a significant impact on the way Ghana addresses the challenges posed by harmful online content.
Key points
- President Mahama cautions against criminalising legitimate criticism and political commentary in efforts to address harmful content on social media.
