The Minority in Parliament has raised red flags over what it describes as an attempt by the government to criminalise free speech through a proposed piece of legislation.
Addressing the media on Sunday, October 26, the former Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said a draft bill currently being circulated seeks to make it an offence for individuals to post or share messages in online chat groups that could be deemed offensive or inciteful.
The group believes the move follows President John Dramani Mahama’s recent directive to trace the IP addresses of individuals spreading hate speech or inciting violence online, with the intent to hold them accountable.
Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi cautioned the government against what he called a dangerous threat to free expression.
“What we’re seeing appears to be a draft, and they want to consult on that draft. From what I have seen, this draft is dangerous,” he stated.
“Though not surprising, because the President first announced that they are going to use the national security apparatus to go after people who make comments on social media that they consider, for whatever reason—whether it is under hate speech or whatever they consider unfavourable—they are going to search for your IP address and get the security apparatus to go after you. The President said it.”
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah added that the proposed law represents a worrying reversal of global progress toward protecting free speech.
“It’s not surprising that his Minister is following up with a draft bill with such wild provisions in there. Over the last few decades, various countries have been moving away from criminalising speech. There are other remedies for speech that may be deemed unfavourable. It’s a very dangerous encroachment on the area of free speech. The government needs to tread cautiously,” he cautioned.
The Minority insists that while harmful content must be addressed, criminalising online expression poses a grave risk to Ghana’s democratic freedoms and the principles of open debate.
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