Accra, Ghana – Senior Research Officer at CDD-Ghana, Kojo Pumpuni Asante, emphasized on Monday that Ghana must strike a delicate balance between safeguarding free speech and addressing mounting concerns over accountability and security in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
The complexities surrounding the regulation of speech have been amplified by the proliferation of digital platforms and the pervasive spread of misinformation, Dr. Pumpuni Asante explained during a discussion on PM Express.
The Shifting Landscape of Free Speech
Historically, Ghana took a significant step in 2001 by repealing criminal libel laws, aiming to limit the criminalization of speech to very specific circumstances. This move was intended to foster a more open environment for expression.
However, the advent of the digital age has resurrected anxieties surrounding harmful speech, misinformation, and deliberate attempts to deceive the public. The ease with which content can be created and disseminated online has brought these issues back to the forefront of public discourse.
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