Ghana’s Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has revealed that he seriously considered ordering a nationwide internet shutdown last week, in the wake of the horrific military helicopter crash that claimed eight lives.
During a live interview on Joy FM on August 12, 2025, the Ningo-Prampram MP said his primary concern was preventing the widespread circulation of graphic videos from the crash scene, especially on WhatsApp, before the families of the victims had even been officially notified. He stressed that such content could further traumatize the loved ones and cause unnecessary mental distress.
However, Sam George acknowledged that cutting off internet access would have far-reaching adverse impacts—disrupting not only news coverage and emergency communications but also the broader economy. Needless to say, that option was ultimately dropped.
Instead, a coordinated response was deployed behind the scenes: the Ministry engaged with Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, along with the Cyber Security Authority and local telecom companies. The National Communications Authority swiftly coordinated with MTN, Telecel, and AirtelTigo to send out over 30 million text messages within two hours, urging the public to stop sharing the distressing visuals. Remarkably, the telecom firms absorbed the full cost of these alerts.
Minister George also chastised some media outlets for airing graphic footage, describing the coverage as a violation of professional ethics. He urged journalists to balance the public’s right to know with sensitivity for grieving families.
This episode has sparked renewed attention on the need for stronger digital regulations. George asserted that planned revisions to the Electronic Communications Act would incorporate elements from the Ghana Journalists Association’s Code of Ethics, aiming to better safeguard the dignity and privacy of those affected in such tragedies
