CYBERSECURITY AMENDMENT BILL WILL NOT RESTRICT FREE EXPRESSION – President John Mahama Assures Ghanaians
Ghanaians and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) have received assurances from Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama that the Cybersecurity Amendment Bill (2025) will not impede free speech.
He claims that the bill is intended to protect citizens and preserve the truth in the digital sphere.
He acknowledged that civil society had expressed worries, but he reassured them that their issues would be taken care of.
The president posted quotes from his speech at the Ghana Journalists Association Awards on Facebook.
He said “One of the issues I addressed at the 29th GJA Awards Ceremony on Saturday was the Cybersecurity Amendment Bill (2025) and the Misinformation and Disinformation Bill currently before Parliament.
The bills are NOT designed to restrict free expression. They are meant to safeguard the citizenry and uphold truth in the digital realm.
The same digital tools that have democratised information can also enable hate, defamation, impersonation, and cyberbullying. Government is committed to addressing this reality responsibly.
I recognise that the GJA and civil society have raised some concerns. I assure the two institutions and Ghanaians that their concerns will be addressed transparently and constructively. Our aim is to extend the ethical standards of traditional journalism into the digital space without infringing on constitutional freedoms.
Freedom of expression does not include the freedom to ruin reputations, threaten lives, or incite violence. The boundary of free speech is speech that endangers peace and human dignity”.
NKONKONSA.com
