Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has endorsed President Mahama’s call for a national dialogue on freedom of expression.
President John Dramani Mahama has called on the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to jointly convene a national stakeholder engagement on hate speech, abusive online content and responsible digital communication.
The move 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 protecting freedom of expression.
While he supports such a call, the Speaker said efforts to address harmful content must not suppress legitimate dissent or criticism of public officials.
Delivering an open address on Tuesday, September 29 as the House reconvened, Bagbin said he had personally received messages from senior citizens across the political divide expressing concern about developments.
“I believe that the call is timely and deserves the support of all persons and institutions committed to the preservation of our democracy,” he said.
He stressed that the national conversation should strike a balance between protecting freedom of expression and addressing genuinely harmful content.
“The national conversation should, in my view, be broad, inclusive and measured. It should not become an exercise in suppressing dissent or shielding public officials from legitimate concerns,” Bagbin noted.
He added that concerns about freedom of expression should not be used to justify threats, incitement, deliberate falsehoods or the reckless abuse of others.
“The President’s proposal itself recognises this balance,” he said.
He expressed optimism that national conversation would consider both the protection of freedom of expression and appropriate responses to genuinely harmful content.
Mr Bagbin also called for Parliament to be involved in the national conversation and urged the committees expected to lead the process to take an active role.
“With this, I urge the Committees that will be put in place to wake up. Parliament must be involved in the national conversation,” he said.
According to the Speaker, criticism of public officials, political disagreement, satire, dissent and vigorous debate are essential features of a democratic society, but should not result in the degradation of public discourse.
