The Association of New Media has thrown its support behind President John Dramani Mahama’s call for the regulation of social media platforms to curb hate speech and online incitement.
Speaking on Noon Target on Bullet News, entertainment and lifestyle blogger Ameyaw Debrah responded to the President’s remarks made during a media encounter held Wednesday, September 10, at Jubilee House.
“As new media association, content creators, we welcome such regulation,” Debrah said. “The issue is how it’s going to be done so it doesn’t become government controlling and dictating how people should generally conduct themselves in terms of being on social media or new media.”
President Mahama had earlier urged the regulation of platforms such as TikTok, X, Facebook, and WhatsApp, warning that they are increasingly being misused to spread hate speech, incite violence, and target public officials.
“There are some incendiary statements that have been made in the Bawku war that is fuelling what is happening there, making people hate each other,” Mahama said. “This falls in the ambit of the National Signal Bureau. So, I’m sending a signal to Ghanaians that we can find you, you those doing hate speeches and things, we’ll use your IP numbers, we’ll trace you and deal with you under the criminal law violence for inciting. But I think that beyond that we must start making regulation for this new media because it’s unregulated, so everybody takes phone and say anything.”
The President’s comments follow recent arrests over viral threats made against him and his family. On August 12, the Ghana Police Service detained Yayra Abiwu, also known as “Akosua Jollof,” for allegedly threatening to kill President Mahama and behead First Lady Lordina Mahama in a TikTok video.
Abiwu, reportedly affiliated with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in North Tongu, also mocked the Adansi Akrofuom helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Environment and Science Minister Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, and six others.
Another suspect, Prince Ofori, alias “Fante Comedy,” was also arrested, while authorities continue to pursue others linked to the video. Spoken largely in Twi, the footage contained graphic threats and expressed political allegiance to the NPP.
Police have urged the public to remain calm and emphasized that the misuse of social media for incitement or threats is both criminal and dangerous.
President Mahama reiterated that the government is committed to enforcement and to developing a regulatory framework that addresses the challenges of digital platforms while safeguarding public safety.
