Samuel Nartey George says offenders will face strict penalties once law is passed
Ghana’s Minister for Communications, Samuel Nartey George, has announced that his ministry will soon present a legal document to Parliament aimed at tackling misinformation and disinformation in the country.
Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, April 9, Samuel George explained that once Parliament reviews and approves the proposal, it will be passed into law, creating a framework for law enforcement agencies to act. “I will present a specialised legislation document on misinformation and disinformation before Parliament to be passed into law in its next meeting to create a clear legal framework for law enforcement,” he said.
The Ningo-Prampram MP warned that no one would be spared under the new law if found guilty of spreading false information. “Notice is served, once the law is passed, we will clamp down on you if you are engaged in mis and disinformation,” he cautioned. He also called for collective civic responsibility, urging Ghanaians to be mindful of their communications.
Across Africa, misinformation and disinformation have become growing challenges, often fueled by political influence, low media literacy, social media misuse, and emerging artificial intelligence technologies. In Ghana, civil society groups like the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) have been working to combat the trend through training and advocacy, especially during election years.
Samuel George emphasized that the proposed law is necessary to ensure transparency and protect Ghana’s democracy from the destabilizing effects of fake news and manipulation.
Source: MyJoyOnline