Mahama Tasks MFWA, GJA to Lead National Engagement on Hate Speech and Online Abuse

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to jointly organise a national stakeholder engagement on hate speech, abusive online content and responsible digital communication.

The initiative is aimed at addressing the growing incidence of hate speech, threats, abusive language and other harmful content on social media and emerging digital platforms while safeguarding freedom of expression.

The directive was contained in a letter from the Office of the President dated September 22, 2026, and signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama.

In the letter, the President called for a broad, inclusive engagement to develop a coherent national roadmap that responds appropriately to harmful digital content without undermining legitimate expression.

President Mahama observed that Ghana’s media environment had undergone significant changes, with public discourse increasingly shaped not only by traditional media organisations but also by individual bloggers, content creators, influencers and users of platforms such as TikTok.

He noted that traditional media organisations operate within established professional and regulatory frameworks, while many online personalities command substantial audiences without necessarily being subject to recognised editorial standards or clear accountability mechanisms.

According to the President, this development presents a difficult but important public-policy challenge that requires a balanced response.

He stressed that efforts to address hate speech, threats, incitement and other unlawful conduct must not result in the criminalisation of legitimate criticism, political commentary, satire and dissent.

The President also expressed concern about what he described as disproportionate arrests over mere criticism or politically charged commentary.

He warned that such actions could be counterproductive, create undeserving martyrs and undermine public confidence in state institutions.

He therefore called for an approach that distinguishes between lawful expression and genuinely harmful or unlawful digital content.

“There is, therefore, an urgent need for a coherent national roadmap that protects freedom of expression while providing an appropriate and proportionate response to genuinely harmful digital content,” the letter stated.

As part of the directive, the MFWA and GJA have been requested to lead a broad, stakeholder-inclusive process involving institutions and groups with interests in media, law, human rights and digital communication.

The proposed engagement is expected to bring together: The National Media Commission, the Ghana Police Service, Relevant religious bodies, Civil society organisations,Traditional media organisations,Social media content creators, bloggers and influencers, Legal and human-rights experts, Representatives of digital platforms, where possible, and relevant state regulatory and security institutions.

The engagement is expected to provide a platform for these stakeholders to examine the challenges associated with harmful online content and identify measures that can address them while respecting freedom of expression.

President Mahama has asked the two organisations to ensure that the engagement examines the adequacy of Ghana’s existing legal, regulatory and institutional framework for dealing with hate speech and harmful digital content.

The process is also expected to clarify the distinction between lawful criticism and unlawful speech.

Participants are expected to propose practical guidelines for law-enforcement agencies and recommend appropriate policy, legislative, regulatory and non-legislative measures.

The proposed guidelines are intended to help address harmful online conduct while ensuring that legitimate expression is not unnecessarily restricted.

The engagement is also expected to consider public education, media and digital literacy, as well as professional and ethical standards for online content creators.

Other areas identified for consideration include accessible complaints and redress mechanisms that would allow individuals to report harmful content and seek appropriate remedies.

The President further called for consideration of alternatives to arrest and prosecution in cases that do not involve threats, incitement, violence or other clearly criminal conduct.

The process is expected to explore how these measures can contribute to responsible digital communication and a more effective response to harmful online activities.

President Mahama has requested the MFWA and GJA to submit a proposed framework and timetable for the stakeholder engagement.

The two organisations are also expected to present recommendations arising from the process for the President’s consideration.

The directive concludes with the President expressing his highest consideration to the recipients.

The initiative places the MFWA and GJA at the centre of a proposed national consultation on how Ghana can respond to harmful online content while maintaining protections for legitimate criticism, political commentary and dissent