Mahama orders national stakeholder engagement on hate speech, abusive online content

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to convene a national stakeholder engagement on hate speech, abusive language and other harmful content on social media and emerging digital platforms.

The directive was contained in a letter dated Tuesday, September 22, 2026, signed by Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, on behalf of President Mahama.

According to the letter, the media environment has changed significantly, with public discourse increasingly taking place beyond traditional media organisations.

“The media environment has changed significantly. Public discourse is increasingly shaped not only by traditional media organisations, which operate within established professional and regulatory frameworks, but also by individual bloggers, content creators, influencers and users of platforms such as TikTok.”

The President noted that many of these emerging actors have substantial audiences and influence but may not operate under recognised editorial standards or clear accountability mechanisms.

The letter said the development presents a public-policy challenge requiring a coordinated national response.

“This development presents a difficult but important public-policy challenge. While hate speech, threats, incitement and other unlawful conduct must be addressed, legitimate criticism, political commentary, satire and dissent must not be criminalised.”

President Mahama, however, expressed concern that disproportionate responses to online criticism could have unintended consequences.

“The President is particularly concerned that disproportionate arrests over mere criticism or politically charged commentary may be counterproductive, create undeserving martyrs, and undermine public confidence in state institutions,” the letter stated.

The President has therefore requested the MFWA and GJA to lead a broad, stakeholder-inclusive process involving the National Media Commission, Ghana Police Service, relevant religious bodies, civil society organisations, traditional media organisations, social media content creators, bloggers and influencers.

The engagement is also expected to include legal and human-rights experts, representatives of digital platforms where possible, and relevant state regulatory and security institutions.

The letter says the engagement should examine “the adequacy of the existing legal, regulatory and institutional framework,” clarify the distinction between lawful criticism and unlawful speech, and propose practical guidelines for law-enforcement agencies.

It also calls for recommendations on appropriate policy, legislative, regulatory and non-legislative measures.

Beyond enforcement, the process is expected to consider public education, media and digital literacy, professional and ethical standards for online content creators, accessible complaints and redress mechanisms, and alternatives to arrest and prosecution where conduct does not involve threats, incitement, violence or other clearly criminal conduct.

The President has consequently asked the MFWA and GJA to submit a proposed framework and timetable for the stakeholder engagement, together with recommendations arising from the process.

The directive comes amid growing concerns over the spread of abusive language, misinformation, threats and other harmful content across Ghana’s rapidly expanding digital media space, alongside calls for the protection of freedom of expression and responsible online communication.