The Minority in Parliament has expressed strong opposition to what it describes as an attempt by the government to criminalise free speech through a proposed piece of legislation aimed at regulating online communications.
Addressing journalists on Sunday, October 26, the Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi and 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 Minority believes the proposed law follows President John Dramani Mahama’s recent directive to trace the IP addresses of persons spreading hate speech or inciting violence online, with the intent to hold them accountable.
“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,” Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said.
He cautioned the government against what he called a dangerous threat to free expression, warning that the move could reverse decades of progress on civil liberties.
“It’s 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,” he added.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah further described the proposed legislation as a “worrying encroachment” on free speech, arguing that democratic societies should find non-criminal remedies for speech considered offensive or harmful.
“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 stressed.
The Minority Caucus maintained that while it supports efforts to curb hate speech and misinformation, criminalising online expression poses a grave risk to Ghana’s democratic freedoms and the principles of open debate.
The group has therefore urged the government to withdraw the draft bill and instead
