Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda in the Eastern Region, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has questioned the need for a proposed national dialogue on hate speech and abusive political communication, arguing that the government should first address what he describes as the conduct of social media commentator Kevin Taylor.
Mr Acquah, a former Deputy Minister of Health, made the comment in response to the Presidency’s initiative to convene stakeholders to discuss hate speech, abusive online content and responsible digital communication.
“Mr. President, there is no need for a national dialogue on how to end insults in our politics. There is only one solution; calling Kevin Taylor to order. Anything less than this would yield no tangible fruits,” he wrote.
The MP’s comments come as the Presidency seeks views from relevant stakeholders on how Ghana should respond to harmful content published on social media and other digital platforms.
The proposed engagement is expected to assess whether the country’s existing legal, regulatory and institutional framework is adequate to deal with harmful online content while protecting lawful criticism, dissent and political expression.
A key area of discussion will be the distinction between legitimate expression and online communication that amounts to an offence.
The process is also expected to develop practical guidance for law-enforcement agencies on how different forms of online content should be addressed.
Beyond legislation and regulation, the consultations are expected to consider non-criminal responses, particularly in cases involving offensive or abusive content that does not constitute threats, incitement, violence or other clearly defined criminal conduct.
Public education, media literacy and digital literacy are also expected to feature in the discussions, alongside professional and ethical standards for online content creators.
The proposed framework will further explore accessible complaint and redress mechanisms for people who believe they have been subjected to harmful or abusive online content, with the aim of resolving some disputes without automatically resorting to arrest or prosecution.
The role of social media platforms, content creators and other influential actors in promoting responsible digital communication is also expected to be examined.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) have been asked to prepare a proposed framework and timetable for the stakeholder engagement and submit recommendations from the consultations to the President.
The initiative comes amid growing debate in Ghana over political commentary and the use of digital platforms for criticism, satire and the dissemination of information.
While the Presidency’s proposed approach seeks to address hate speech, threats, incitement and other unlawful online conduct, it also emphasises the need to protect legitimate political expression.
Mr Acquah, however, has argued for a more targeted response, identifying Kevin Taylor as an individual whose conduct, in his view, requires immediate attention.
His comments add to the wider debate over how the country can address abusive political communication while maintaining the constitutional protections afforded to lawful criticism and freedom of expression.
By 1960news.com
