Ghanaian dancehall musician Shatta Wale has written an open letter to President John Dramani Mahama, calling for a balanced legal framework to deal with defamation, harassment, and abuse on social media. The letter, posted on his X account, responds to the President's recent comments on regulating TikTok and other new media platforms. Mahama had spoken at a town hall meeting with Ghanaians in New York on Friday, September 25, 2026.
Mahama's comments came days after police arrested Salomey Awity Bafoh, a senior nursing officer, over her alleged links to the anonymous TikTok account Ghana Jollof, which has been critical of the President. The President tasked the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) with organising a stakeholder forum on how new media should be regulated. He expressed concerns about misinformation and insults on social media platforms.
Shatta Wale's letter, dated September 28, 2026, proposes a clearly defined legal framework for serious and proven online misconduct, while protecting criticism, journalism, satire, and political expression. He argued that no citizen should be punished for criticising a public official or public figure. The musician has spent many years as the subject of unverified allegations and public ridicule, which he believes has grown out of entertainment commentary and comment sections.
Shatta Wale's proposals include strengthening account verification using the existing Ghana Card SIM registration, without forcing citizens to give up anonymity. He suggested that penalties for online conduct deemed criminal by Parliament should be proportionate, with custodial sentences not exceeding one month. The musician also cautioned against reintroducing criminal libel, which Ghana repealed in 2001.
The musician emphasized the need for public education on responsible online conduct, which should accompany any legal reform. He also suggested that the creative industry should be consulted early in the process. Shatta Wale's goal, he wrote, is not to silence citizens, but to restore responsibility to public conversation while preserving the freedoms on which Ghana's democracy stands.
In a related development, the High Court in Accra refused a bail application by Salomey Awity Bafoh, the nurse linked to the Ghana Jollof account, in a ruling reported on Thursday, September 24, 2026. The judge cited ongoing investigations and fears that evidence could be compromised or deleted if she were released. Police are also searching for Barbara Asantewaa Kodua, believed to be the account's operator.
Shatta Wale remains available to contribute to the national dialogue on regulating social media and tackling online abuse. His proposals have sparked a conversation about the need for a balanced approach to addressing the challenges posed by social media, while protecting citizens' rights to free speech and expression.
Key points
- Shatta Wale proposes a 7-point plan to tackle social media abuse and defamation in Ghana.
- The plan includes a clearly defined legal framework for online misconduct and protection for criticism and free speech.
- President Mahama had called for a national conversation on regulating TikTok and other new media platforms.
