Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, Senior Research Officer at CDD-Ghana, highlighted on Tuesday the escalating global debate surrounding speech regulation, emphasizing Ghana’s historical move to decriminalize libel in 2001. His remarks, made on PM Express, address the complex challenge of balancing free expression with public safety and accountability in the digital age, particularly in light of rising political tensions in Ghana.
Context of the Debate
The discussion intensifies as Ghana’s opposition, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has petitioned the diplomatic community. They allege a crackdown on dissent and politically motivated arrests under the current Mahama administration.
The NPP claims state institutions are weaponized to intimidate opponents, journalists, and critics through selective prosecutions. They point to the arrest of Bono Regional Chairman Kwame Baffoe over alleged comments about a judge as evidence of political persecution.
The Digital Dilemma
Dr. Pumpuni Asante noted that the advent of digital platforms has significantly complicated free speech issues worldwide. The ease of spreading misleading, misinforming, or deliberately harmful content online fuels renewed concerns about regulation.
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