Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has expressed support for President John Dramani Mahama's call for a national dialogue on freedom of expression. The dialogue aims to address the growing incidence of hate speech, threats, abusive language, and other harmful content on social media and emerging digital platforms. Bagbin emphasized that efforts to address harmful content must not suppress legitimate dissent or criticism of public officials. He made these remarks as the House reconvened on Tuesday, September 29.
President Mahama has called on the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to jointly convene a national stakeholder engagement on hate speech, abusive online content, and responsible digital communication. This move seeks to strike a balance between protecting freedom of expression and addressing genuinely harmful content. Bagbin stressed that the national conversation should be broad, inclusive, and measured to preserve democracy.
Bagbin noted that concerns about freedom of expression should not be used to justify threats, incitement, deliberate falsehoods, or the reckless abuse of others. He expressed optimism that the national conversation would consider both the protection of freedom of expression and appropriate responses to genuinely harmful content. The Speaker also called for Parliament to be involved in the national conversation and urged the committees expected to lead the process to take an active role.
According to Bagbin, criticism of public officials, political disagreement, satire, dissent, and vigorous debate are essential features of a democratic society. However, these should not result in the degradation of public discourse. He personally received messages from senior citizens across the political divide expressing concern about developments, emphasizing the need for a national dialogue.
The Speaker's endorsement of President Mahama's call for a national dialogue on freedom of expression has been widely welcomed. Bagbin's statement reflects the concerns of many Ghanaians who are worried about the impact of hate speech and harmful online content on the country's democracy. The national conversation is expected to bring together stakeholders to discuss the issues and find solutions.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) will jointly convene the national stakeholder engagement. The committees expected to lead the process have been urged to take an active role in ensuring that the national conversation is successful. Parliament's involvement in the national conversation is also expected to ensure that the issues are addressed from a legislative perspective.
The national dialogue on freedom of expression is expected to consider both the protection of freedom of expression and appropriate responses to genuinely harmful content. The conversation will aim to find a balance between protecting freedom of expression and addressing hate speech, threats, abusive language, and other harmful content on social media and emerging digital platforms.
Key points
- Speaker Bagbin endorses President Mahama's call for a national dialogue on freedom of expression.
- The national dialogue aims to address hate speech, threats, abusive language, and other harmful content on social media and emerging digital platforms.
- The conversation will seek to balance protecting freedom of expression and addressing genuinely harmful content.
