President John Dramani Mahama says his government has no such plan as shutting down social media on December 7 despite claims to the contrary.He says preventing access to social media such as Facebook will not solve the problem of policing the integrity of the ballot.
“Government has no intention to shut down social media on election day. The Electoral Commission must agree with political parties on a credible procedure to announce the election results,” he said.
The President disclosed this when he addressed teeming supporters of the National Democratic Congress during the 2016 campaign launch at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
NDC supporters at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium
Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor, has indicated the police administration is considering blocking social media on election because of the fear of false declaration of the results which he says could affect the stability of the country.
"At one stage I was even saying that if it becomes critical on the eve and the Election Day we shall block all social media as other countries have done. So we are thinking about it," he said.
Recently during his tour of the ten regions to acquaint himself with the preparation of the police ahead of the election, he reiterated in the Eastern Region that the police administration is still considering the suggestion.
“Social media has been used to spread a lot of half-truths, half-baked information and lies… We shall recommend to our principal that social media is banned…and I still stand by that," Mr Kudalor said.
The IGP’s suggestion has caused uproar in the country with some civil society groups urging the police to rescind such a decision.
BloggingGhana and PenPlusBytes say the freedom of expression which is guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution would be compromised if social media is banned in Ghana.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 7, the two organisations say “Social media will provide Ghanaians with a platform to participate in the monitoring of the election process to enhance transparency and national debate.”
According to them, the police should rather aim at using social media as a force for good instead of evil by encouraging decency on all social media platforms.
Touching on the issue as the NDC kick-starts its 2016 campaigns [both Presidential and Parliamentary], President Mahama said his government has been monitoring development, but has no such plans.
He rather believes it is the responsibility of the Electoral Commission (EC) to put out modalities to ensure that whoever it says won the election is accepted.
The EC and parties must agree on a credible procedure to announce the election results, he said.