President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana has called for a national stakeholder engagement to address the issue of harmful online content. In a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, President Mahama emphasized the need for a clear national approach to dealing with hate speech, threats, incitement, and abusive content on social media and other digital platforms. The proposed engagement aims to bring together state institutions, media organizations, civil society groups, and digital content creators to discuss the issue.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) are expected to lead the national discussion. President Mahama cautioned against arrests based merely on criticism or politically charged commentary, saying such actions could be counterproductive and undermine confidence in state institutions. He stressed that any response to unlawful online conduct must be proportionate and should not extend to legitimate political criticism, satire, or dissent.
The engagement will examine Ghana's existing laws and regulations on online speech and seek to establish a clearer distinction between protected expression and unlawful content. Participants will include the National Media Commission, Ghana Police Service, bloggers, influencers, and representatives of digital platforms. Legal and human-rights experts, as well as regulatory and security agencies, are also expected to participate in the discussions.
The discussions will focus on guidelines for law-enforcement agencies, digital literacy, and public education, as well as ethical standards for online content creators and mechanisms for lodging complaints and seeking redress. President Mahama said the process should ultimately produce a national roadmap that protects freedom of expression while ensuring that genuinely harmful digital content is dealt with appropriately.
The proposed engagement is expected to bring together a diverse range of stakeholders, including civil society groups, religious bodies, and digital content creators. The National Media Commission, Ghana Police Service, and representatives of digital platforms are among those expected to participate. The engagement aims to ensure that all stakeholders are involved in the discussion and that a comprehensive approach is developed.
President Mahama's request for a national stakeholder engagement on harmful online content reflects his commitment to balancing freedom of expression with the need to address unlawful online conduct. The engagement is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to share their perspectives and expertise, and to work towards a national approach that is proportionate and effective.
The outcome of the engagement is expected to be a national roadmap that outlines a clear approach to addressing harmful online content in Ghana. The roadmap will aim to protect freedom of expression while ensuring that genuinely harmful digital content is dealt with appropriately. President Mahama's initiative is seen as a step towards promoting a safer and more responsible online environment in Ghana.
Key points
- President Mahama requests national stakeholder engagement to address harmful online content in Ghana.
- The engagement aims to develop a clear national approach to dealing with hate speech, threats, incitement, and abusive content on social media and other digital platforms.
- The proposed engagement will bring together state institutions, media organizations, civil society groups, and digital content creators to discuss the issue.
