Dr. Asiedu Sarpong warns govt against suppressing free speech in misinformation crackdown

A fellow at CDD-Ghana, Dr. Kwame Asiedu Sarpong, has criticized the government for attempting to stifle free speech in its efforts to combat so-called misinformation.

According to Dr. Sarpong, the government’s actions are not only ineffective but also undermine the principles of democracy.

Dr. Sarpong’s comments come after Facebook blocked an article from Forthestate, a publication, about its latest exposé on a scramble by some government officials and politically exposed persons to mine in Ghana’s forest reserves.

The Fourth Estate, in its latest exposé, has named some government officials and members of the governing party who are reportedly using their companies to mine in protected forest reserves, threatening Ghana’s forests and water bodies. This comes amid reports of spam related to the term ‘galamsey’.

They named several officials, including Kumasi Mayor Sam Pyne, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chairman Wontumi, and the NPP’s 2024 Parliamentary candidate for Juaben, Francis Owusu-Akyaw, among others.

Following interventions by Dr. Asiedu Sarpong and others, the block was lifted after George Sarpong, head of the National Media Commission, agreed to speak with Facebook’s legal team in Ghana.

Disclosing his interventions he divulged, “I then spoke to the head of the National Media Commission, and George Sarpong promised that he would speak to Facebook’s legal team in Ghana. By Friday, they had removed it.”

In an interview with Prof S.F Gyasi on Bresosem at Abusuafm, Dr. Sarpong vowed to continue speaking out against attempts to suppress free speech, insisting that he and others will not be silenced.

He emphasized, “I’m saying this on behalf of all the faceless people who have stood up because we’ve reached a point where some of us are no longer going to keep quiet”.

Dr Asiedu Sarpong warned that if the government continues to play reporting games, they will take the matter to the National Media Commission and even start a petition on change.org if necessary.

He contended, “If they decide to play these reporting games, we will take the matter on. We will go to the National Media Commission. I told George Sarpong point-blank that even if we have to take a petition to change.org and come to the National Media Commission, we will do that because we refuse to be gagged”.

Source: Starrfm.com.gh