The Spokesperson for former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, in a sharp rebuke, has condemned President John Dramani Mahama’s push for new social media regulations in Ghana, arguing it could jeopardize citizens’ fundamental rights. Aboagye’s fiery Facebook post themed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s proposal to introduce hate speech laws or curb online speech “unnecessary” and “doomed to fail.”
“Any attempt to legislate free speech and silence Ghanaians will crash and burn,” Aboagye declared. He has describes the prospected move a “dangerous road to censorship.”
Mahama’s Call for Social Media Oversight
The ensuing controversy originated from President Mahama’s recent media address, his first since returning to office, where he voiced alarm over rising hate speech, tribal incitement, and misinformation on platforms like TikTok, WhatsApp, and X. Highlighting the emergence of “new journalists”—ordinary citizens using smartphones to report or comment on national issues—Mahama stressed the need for accountability, particularly for anonymous users spreading harmful content.
“Who holds these people responsible?” Mahama quizzed, noting that while criminal libel laws were repealed, existing legal frameworks must be bolstered or new ones created to tackle online hate and incitement.
But, Miracles Aboagye argues that Ghana’s current laws already address hate speech, incitement, and public peace violations. He dismissed the need for additional regulations, pointing to past instances of misinformation—such as false claims about former President Akufo-Addo and Bawumia’s alleged ties to Hubtel, or accusations labeling a group as the “Akyem Salaga Mafia”—as proof that the country has weathered such challenges without stifling free speech.
“Ghana didn’t collapse when lies were spread about Akufo-Addo or Bawumia,” Aboagye said. “We don’t need new laws to fix what isn’t broken.”
A Heated Debate Over Free Speech
The clash underscores a growing tension in Ghana over balancing free expression with curbing online harm. As social media continues to shape public discourse, the debate over regulation is likely to intensify, with Miracles Aboagye and the opposition NPP framing Mahama’s proposal as a potential threat to democratic freedoms.
