Former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, has proposed that the government initiate a broad, non-partisan dialogue concerning the proposed National Misinformation and Disinformation Bill. He has warned that if the bill is not carefully designed, its implementation could veer into politically motivated enforcement. The draft legislation, announced in July by the Minister of Communications, Samuel Nartey George, aims to curb the spread of falsehoods, hate speech, and disinformation on digital platforms.
Mr. George explained that the initiative is intended to “strengthen legal safeguards against the deliberate spread of false or harmful content online” while also upholding the principle of freedom of expression. He stated, “We will not clamp down on freedom of expression. However, when your right to free expression ends, your duty not to misinform begins.” The minister added that the bill would provide statutory agencies with a clear framework to address harmful content without reintroducing criminal libel.
Inusah Fuseini, while appearing on Joy FM’s Newsfile program on Saturday, September 13, 2025, emphasised that any legal intervention in this matter must align with Ghana’s constitutional guarantees and reflect the social realities of the country. “Some judges have been discussing a law that is being formulated, but we don’t yet have the specifics,” he noted. “When the draft of the law becomes available, we will all have the opportunity to contribute and ensure that we effectively address this emerging issue.”
President Mahama calls for regulation of online commentary
Mr. Fuseini’s remarks came after President John Dramani Mahama expressed concerns about unregulated online commentary and the rise of hate speech on social media during a media encounter last week. The President referred to a new generation of journalists, stating, “Anyone with a phone and a camera can report news or comment on national issues.
The question is, who holds these individuals accountable?” He pointed out that many viral posts on platforms like WhatsApp and TikTok contain hate speech or incitement to violence, actions that are already considered criminal, despite the repeal of criminal libel laws in 2001. “We must begin to establish regulations for this new media,” he emphasised.
Balancing rights and responsibility
Mr Fuseini recalled earlier policy discussions on cybersecurity and online responsibility dating back to 2020. He stressed that any future law must safeguard the constitutional right to free speech (Chapter Five) while recognising the duties of citizens under Chapter Six to respect others’ freedoms and promote national unity.
“If you want to create a civilised, sane society, people should be responsible,” he said. “We must find a way to balance the need for people to exercise their right to speech … and also balance that with the requirements of responsibility.” He also criticised the rise of anonymous online outlets publishing unverified material without accountability.
“Sometimes I sit on this platform and say things, and I go and read things that somebody has written, and you want to check the byline, who is that person? ‘The Marvellous TV’, who is that?” he asked. “Nobody should have the right to sit in the corner of his room and create content meant for public consumption without any iota of responsibility.”
While acknowledging that hate speech is identified in Ghana’s National Security Strategy as a threat to stability, the former lawmaker warned against enacting a statute that punishes dissent or stifles political speech. Finding that balance will require proper national debate, and I hope Sam George or whoever is spearheading it will not be driven by the energy of politics but will actually create a very open forum for debate,” he said.
Source: Mohammed Ali
