Ghana debates online insults and freedom of speech

A resurfaced July 2026 sermon by Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams has reignited debate in Ghana regarding online conduct and freedom of speech. In the sermon, the Action Chapel International founder warned that “freedom of speech has become freedom of insults,” noting that the fear of social media attacks has often silenced honest governance discussions. He cautioned that online insults would eventually face consequences.

This religious commentary coincides with intensifying political tensions in Ghana. President John Dramani Mahama has recently defended police actions involving the arrest of individuals accused of insulting public officials online.

The current climate marks a shift from Ghana’s historical “culture of silence” during the PNDC era—where citizens used coded language and proverbs to avoid state repercussions—to a modern era of provocative political communication. While the 1992 Constitution and the repeal of criminal libel laws expanded free expression, the rise of social media and private radio has transformed political discourse into an environment where personal attacks and insults are increasingly common.