President John Dramani Mahama has tasked 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.
The initiative is aimed at addressing the growing incidence of hate speech, threats, abusive language and other harmful content on social media and emerging digital platforms while protecting freedom of expression.
In a letter from the Office of the President dated September 22, 2026, and signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, President Mahama noted that Ghana’s media environment has changed significantly, with public discourse increasingly shaped not only by traditional media organisations but also by bloggers, content creators, influencers and individual users of platforms such as TikTok.
According to the President, many of these actors command substantial audiences but are not necessarily subject to established editorial standards or clear accountability mechanisms.
He described the situation as a “difficult but important public-policy challenge”, stressing the need to address hate speech, threats, incitement and other unlawful conduct without criminalising legitimate criticism, political commentary, satire and dissent.
President Mahama also raised concerns about what he described as “disproportionate arrests over mere criticism or politically charged commentary”, arguing that such actions could be counterproductive, create “undeserving martyrs” and undermine public confidence in state institutions.
He said there was an “urgent need for a coherent national roadmap” that protects freedom of expression while providing an appropriate and proportionate response to genuinely harmful digital content.
The stakeholder engagement is expected to bring together the National Media Commission, relevant religious bodies, the Ghana Police Service, civil society organisations, traditional media organisations, social media content creators, bloggers and influencers, legal and human-rights experts, representatives of digital platforms where possible, as well as relevant state regulatory and security institutions.
The process is expected to examine the adequacy of 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 consider policy, legislative, regulatory and non-legislative measures, alongside 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 in cases that do not involve threats, incitement, violence or other clearly criminal conduct.
The MFWA and GJA have been asked to submit a proposed framework and timetable for the stakeholder engagement, together with recommendations arising from the process, for the President’s consideration.