By Simon Asare, GNA
Accra, Sept. 28, GNA – Ghanaian musician Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale, has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to pursue a balanced legal framework to address online defamation, harassment and abuse while safeguarding freedom of expression.
In a letter dated September 28, 2026, and addressed to the President, Shatta Wale referenced Mahama’s recent comments during a town hall meeting with Ghanaians in New York, where the President expressed concern about misinformation, insults and the challenges of regulating digital platforms without undermining free speech.
The award-winning artiste said the culture of insults and unverified allegations did not originate with social media but had evolved from sections of entertainment commentary before spreading across digital platforms that enable instant broadcasting.
“As a creative who has spent many years as the subject of unverified allegations and public ridicule, I believe this culture did not begin with social media,” he said.
Shatta Wale noted that the problem now affects a broad range of people, including traditional leaders, businesspeople, journalists, public officials and ordinary citizens.
While stressing that Ghana’s constitutional guarantees on freedom of speech and media freedom must remain protected, he argued that such freedoms should not be interpreted as permission to threaten, harass or deliberately spread false information.
Among his proposals, he called for Parliament, the judiciary, security agencies, media organisations and civil society groups to work together to establish a clearly defined legal framework for dealing with serious cases of online misconduct, backed by due process and independent judicial oversight.
He also urged lawmakers to ensure that any reforms explicitly protect legitimate criticism, journalism, satire and political expression, saying no citizen should be punished for criticising public officials or political leaders.
The musician further proposed greater cooperation between social media platforms and Ghanaian authorities, including stronger account verification systems linked to existing Ghana Card and SIM registration arrangements, while preserving anonymity for users who do not engage in unlawful conduct.
Shatta Wale suggested that Parliament consider proportionate penalties for specific offences if deemed necessary, including short custodial sentences of up to one month, aimed at deterrence and correction rather than punishment.
He cautioned, however, that any new legislation should not effectively restore criminal libel laws, which Ghana repealed in 2001.
The artiste also called for public education campaigns on responsible online behaviour and urged policymakers to consult stakeholders within the creative industry, arguing that entertainers have long been among the most affected by online abuse and misinformation.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Simon Asare
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