President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned that efforts to curb harmful content on social media must not criminalise legitimate criticism, political commentary, satire and dissent. In a letter to the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the former president urged the two organisations to convene a national stakeholder engagement on hate speech, abusive language and other harmful content on social media and emerging digital platforms.
Mahama highlighted the evolving media landscape, noting that bloggers, content creators, influencers and TikTok users now wield significant influence without always operating under recognised editorial standards or clear accountability mechanisms. He warned that disproportionate arrests over mere criticism or politically charged commentary could create “undeserving martyrs” and erode public confidence in state institutions.
The former president called for a coherent national roadmap that protects freedom of expression while ensuring a proportionate response to genuinely harmful digital content. He tasked the MFWA and GJA to lead a broad stakeholder process involving the National Media Commission, Ghana Police Service, civil society organisations, traditional media organisations, content creators, bloggers, influencers, legal and human‑rights experts, religious bodies and relevant state regulatory and security institutions.
The engagement will examine Ghana’s existing legal, regulatory and institutional framework, clarify the distinction between lawful criticism and unlawful speech, and propose practical guidelines for law‑enforcement agencies. It will also recommend policy, legislative, regulatory and non‑legislative measures for addressing harmful online content, while considering public education, media and digital literacy, professional and ethical standards for online content creators, accessible complaints and redress mechanisms, and alternatives to arrest and prosecution where content does not involve threats, incitement, violence or other clearly criminal conduct.
MFWA and GJA have been asked to submit a proposed framework, timetable and recommendations for the President’s consideration, aiming to balance the protection of free expression with the need to curb genuinely harmful content.
