Justice Adjei Urges Uniform Laws for Digital and Physical Offences

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.