Ghanaian musician Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to adopt a balanced approach in addressing online abuse. In a letter dated September 28, 2026, Shatta Wale referenced the President's recent comments during a town hall meeting with Ghanaians in New York. The musician's appeal comes amid concerns about misinformation, insults, and the challenges of regulating digital platforms without undermining free speech.
Shatta Wale noted that the culture of insults and unverified allegations did not originate with social media but had evolved from sections of entertainment commentary before spreading across digital platforms that enable instant broadcasting. He stated that as a creative who has spent many years as the subject of unverified allegations and public ridicule, he believes this culture did not begin with social media. The problem now affects a broad range of people, including traditional leaders, businesspeople, journalists, public officials, and ordinary citizens.
While stressing that Ghana's constitutional guarantees on freedom of speech and media freedom must remain protected, Shatta Wale argued that such freedoms should not be interpreted as permission to threaten, harass, or deliberately spread false information. He proposed that Parliament, the judiciary, security agencies, media organisations, and civil society groups work together to establish a clearly defined legal framework for dealing with serious cases of online misconduct, backed by due process and independent judicial oversight.
Shatta Wale also urged lawmakers to ensure that any reforms explicitly protect legitimate criticism, journalism, satire, and political expression, saying no citizen should be punished for criticising public officials or political leaders. He further proposed greater cooperation between social media platforms and Ghanaian authorities, including stronger account verification systems linked to existing Ghana Card and SIM registration arrangements, while preserving anonymity for users who do not engage in unlawful conduct.
The musician suggested that Parliament consider proportionate penalties for specific offences if deemed necessary, including short custodial sentences of up to one month, aimed at deterrence and correction rather than punishment. He cautioned, however, that any new legislation should not effectively restore criminal libel laws, which Ghana repealed in 2001. This proposal aims to strike a balance between protecting individuals from online abuse and upholding freedom of expression.
Shatta Wale also called for public education campaigns on responsible online behaviour and urged policymakers to consult stakeholders within the creative industry, arguing that entertainers have long been among the most affected by online abuse and misinformation. The musician's proposals aim to address the complexities of online abuse in Ghana while ensuring that any new laws or regulations do not infringe on citizens' rights to free speech and expression.
Key points
- Shatta Wale proposes a balanced legal framework to address online defamation, harassment, and abuse while safeguarding freedom of expression.
