Samuel Nartey George, the Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, has disclosed that he considered shutting down the internet in the country last week after the military helicopter crashed.
He explains that he wanted to control the spread of graphic images from the crash site before relatives of the victims were informed.
According to him, some disturbing images were circulating on WhatsApp at the time, which is a platform difficult for the government to control.
“When the incident happened, I was distraught, but we still had a responsibility to the state. I got a call with the videos that started circulating. The unfortunate situation is most of them were circulating on WhatsApp, and WhatsApp is a platform that is not controlled by any country. It’s a private business,” he said on Joy FM Tuesday, August 12, 2025.
“But that also had consequences for news access, emergency communication, and even the economy,” he added
“One was to shut down the internet in the country to prevent further spread of the videos, because government had not officially completed communication to the families. Government had not made a formal communication. You had some of the kids who are old enough being online. I was worried about the mental health of those kids and their spouses, and such a tragedy needs to be broken in a certain way,” Mr. George explained.
He noted, however, that his outfit instead worked with the Cyber Security Authority, Meta, which owns WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, and Ghana’s telecom operators to limit circulation.
The National Communications Authority (NCA) coordinated with MTN, Telecel, and AirtelTigo to send more than 30 million text messages within two hours, urging the public to stop sharing the images, Mr. George added. The telecom companies absorbed the entire cost of the alert.
“IMPORTANT ALERT- We have become aware of videos and photos circulating on social media of a helicopter crash and the burning bodies of some victims. We ask that out of respect to the individuals involved, circulation of these videos and photos should stop immediately, and all copies deleted. We count on your co-operation. Our prayers are with the families and friends of those impacted – MoCDTI”
He said Meta removed much of the content from Facebook and Instagram but could not delete encrypted messages on WhatsApp.
He criticised some traditional media outlets for airing graphic scenes, describing it as a breach of professional ethics, and urged greater sensitivity in reporting tragedies.
The Minister said the incident showed the need for updated digital laws, adding that planned amendments to the Electronic Communications Act will include provisions drawn from the Ghana Journalists Association’s code of ethics to protect the privacy and dignity of grieving families.
[PHOTOS] Helicopter crash: Mahama meets families of military victims
