President John Dramani Mahama has issued a strong warning that his administration will find and prosecute individuals who use social media platforms to incite violence, particularly along tribal and ethnic lines.
The President lamented the rise of what he described as vile commentary on platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and TikTok, which he stated has the potential to fuel conflict and endanger national peace.
The President’s comments were made during a media encounter at the Jubilee House on September 10, 2025.
He emphasised that while new media has emerged as a powerful communication tool, some individuals are exploiting these platforms to engage in criminal activities.
“If you go to some of the WhatsApp platforms or you go to some of the commentaries in TikTok and others, we have what we call hate speech and incitement to violence; those are criminal,” President Mahama said.
“Despite the fact that we have removed the criminal libel laws, there are some laws that make people accountable because if we don’t regulate that sector, it can lead this nation to war.”
He highlighted specific examples of how such incendiary statements have exacerbated conflicts, citing the situations in Bawku and Gonja.
The President affirmed that the National Signals Bureau (NSB) is equipped with the technology to track offenders.
“This falls in the ambit of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), and so the NSB now has the technology to use your IP number and find you where you are,” he stated. “So I am sending a signal to Ghanaians that we can find you, those doing that hate speech and those things. We will use your IP number; we will trace you, and when we trace you, we will deal with you under the criminal code for inciting violence and disturbing the peace.”
In addition to prosecution, President Mahama noted the need for new media to be regulated.
He recalled a specific instance where some individuals expressed happiness about a helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight people, wishing that different individuals had been on board.
This, he noted, underscores the urgent need for a regulatory framework.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
