Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, a nominee for the Supreme Court, has called for stricter regulation of digital misconduct, stating that offences committed on social media should be treated with the same seriousness as those committed offline.

Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, June 16, 2025, Justice Adjei emphasized that Ghana’s existing laws should apply equally across both physical and digital platforms.

Responding to concerns about the rise in fake news, impersonation, and misinformation online, he said:

“If an act is considered a criminal offence in Ghana in the physical world, it should equally be an offence on social media.”

He cited the Communications Act, which already addresses issues like exposing private information or making statements that threaten national security, regardless of the medium used.

Addressing concerns over freedom of expression, Justice Adjei stressed the importance of legal consistency.

“It would be inappropriate to criminalize an act online if it’s not an offence offline. But where the law already exists, the digital space should not offer protection from accountability,” he added.

Justice Adjei currently serves as the Director of the Judicial Training Institute and has contributed significantly to judicial education and legal reforms. He is one of seven individuals being considered for elevation to Ghana’s highest court.

His comments come amid ongoing discussions about the regulation of online platforms in Ghana, particularly during election seasons, when the circulation of misinformation becomes more rampant.

The 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), which began on Tuesday, June 11, with over 600,000 candidates across Ghana, has already recorded 10 cases of examination malpractice, according to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The individuals involved have been handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Ghana continues to grapple with widespread exam irregularities during both the BECE and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Common offences include collusion, possession of unauthorized materials, and impersonation—violations that can lead to the cancellation or withholding of results while investigations are conducted.

Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, revealed troubling details surrounding the recent breaches.

“These 10 individuals have been handed over to law enforcement agencies. Their actions constitute criminal offenses under WAEC regulations, and the police will now handle their prosecution,” Kapi stated.

Among the culprits is a supervisor who allegedly used a mobile phone to take photos of exam questions and shared them on social media. Additionally, six invigilators were caught with phones containing images of the examination papers.

Kapi also reported that a woman, who claimed to be a fashion designer, was found in possession of photocopied answer sheets intended for distribution to students. Other individuals implicated include a student nurse and an administrator from a private school.

WAEC officials responded swiftly, with monitors apprehending persons suspected of attempting to solve questions outside the examination halls and relay the answers to candidates.

“Investigations are ongoing,” Kapi said, adding that the council is still collecting reports from centres that were unreachable on the first day of the exams.

To curb further malpractices, WAEC is collaborating with national security agencies. Kapi mentioned discussions with the National Investigations Bureau in the Ahafo Region, which has promised to deploy personnel to identified high-risk areas.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has also deployed officers to support monitoring activities nationwide. WAEC has stationed its own personnel at various centres as well.

“We believe the increased security presence will serve as a strong deterrent to those contemplating cheating,” Kapi concluded.

The family of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has launched a scathing attack on the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), accusing it of abusing its administrative powers and violating Mr. Ofori-Atta’s human rights in connection with an INTERPOL Red Notice issued against him.

In a strongly worded press statement issued on Monday, June 9, 2025, the family called for the immediate withdrawal of the Red Notice, which labels Mr. Ofori-Atta a fugitive wanted for “using public office for private profit.” They revealed that formal applications for the removal of the notice have been filed with both Ghana’s National Central Bureau and INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of Files (CCF).

The family alleges that the OSP manipulated evidence and bypassed legal protocols to obtain an arrest warrant dated February 11, 2025, without presenting a supporting affidavit in court — a key legal requirement. According to them, this forms the basis of a pending case in the Human Rights Court scheduled for a ruling on June 18, 2025.

They also condemned the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, for using media platforms to brand Mr. Ofori-Atta as a fugitive, describing such actions as “unlawful” and “a public lynching.” The statement insists that no formal charges have been laid against Mr. Ofori-Atta beyond the generic accusation stated on the arrest warrant.

Citing health concerns, the family noted that Mr. Ofori-Atta, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment at the Mayo Clinic in the United States, had offered to provide a video-recorded interview to aid the investigation — a proposal the OSP rejected. They argued that the refusal to accept this offer, despite medical evidence and timelines submitted to the court, reveals a lack of fairness and reasonableness.

According to the family, the OSP ignored multiple medical updates, including documentation that Mr. Ofori-Atta had been scheduled for a biopsy in March 2025 and will undergo surgery for cancer on June 13, 2025. They emphasized that his absence from Ghana is not an attempt to evade justice but a necessary medical absence.

“The reposting of the Wanted notice was a premeditated theatrical stunt—a public lynching to portray a man, scheduled for cancer surgery, as a fugitive,” the statement asserted.

They further claim that the OSP’s actions amount to political persecution and a vendetta against Mr. Ofori-Atta, listing several missteps including unlawful declarations, breach of due process, and violations of constitutional rights.

The family stressed Mr. Ofori-Atta’s history of cooperation with legal authorities, including CHRAJ and Parliamentary censure processes, all of which they say ended in his favor. They argued that the portrayal of him as a fugitive is inconsistent with his past behavior and reputation.

They concluded by reaffirming his intention to return to Ghana and appear before the OSP once his medical treatment and recovery are complete. The family expressed confidence that justice will ultimately prevail, restoring Mr. Ofori-Atta’s reputation.

“Justice will find the Hamans,” the statement ends, drawing a biblical allusion to vindication after persecution.