Shatta Wale urges President Mahama to reform social media laws

Ghanaian dancehall artist Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., known as Shatta Wale, has issued an open letter to President John Dramani Mahama proposing a legal framework to combat social media defamation and harassment. The musician’s proposal follows the President’s recent call for a national stakeholder dialogue regarding the regulation of platforms like TikTok to address misinformation and insults.

Shatta Wale argued that while the 1992 Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and media freedom, these rights should not serve as a license to spread damaging falsehoods or engage in public ridicule. He noted that the issue has expanded from entertainment commentary to affecting businesspeople, journalists, and ordinary citizens.

His recommendations include the development of clearly defined laws with independent judicial oversight and due process. He also suggested that social media platforms cooperate with lawful, court-ordered requests to identify accounts involved in proven misconduct, while emphasizing that legitimate criticism, satire, and political expression must remain protected.