Ghana President tasks MFWA and GJA to address online hate speech

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to lead a national stakeholder engagement to address hate speech and abusive content on digital platforms. The initiative aims to create a national roadmap that manages harmful online conduct—such as threats and incitement—while ensuring that legitimate political commentary, satire, and dissent are not criminalized. The Presidency expressed concern that disproportionate arrests for mere criticism could undermine public confidence in state institutions.

In a related development, the MFWA has launched a GH¢544,000 legal support fund to assist Ghanaian journalists facing legal challenges. Funded by the European Union and implemented through the Africa Media Integrity and Resilience Programme, the fund is designed to protect media practitioners from Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP) suits, which are often used to silence legitimate reporting. The fund was announced during a training workshop for journalists in Kumasi focused on media rights and legal frameworks.