Rev Canon Dr Confidence Bansah, Founder of the Centre for Religion and Public Life (CRPL-Ghana), has thrown his weight behind government’s plan to criminalise misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and hate speech in Ghana.
In a statement shared on X on Sunday, September 14, 2025, Dr Bansah described the move as timely and necessary, stressing that it would restore sanity to public discourse, particularly in discussions about minority groups.
“We welcome the government’s decision to finalise legislation to criminalise misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and hate speech. This will help bring sanity to our national conversations, especially concerning minority groups who are often targets of harmful rhetoric,” he noted.
His endorsement follows comments by the Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, who revealed that government is in the final stages of drafting a comprehensive bill to curb harmful online content.
Addressing the media launch of Cybersecurity Awareness 2025 on September 3, the minister issued a stern warning to individuals who use digital platforms to spread falsehoods and hateful messages:
“The ministry is almost done with the misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and hate speech bill. Don’t say you weren’t warned—we will come after you, prosecute you, and jail you,” he declared.
According to the minister, the legislation forms part of broader efforts to bolster digital safety, fight online fraud, and protect citizens from cyberbullying and harassment.
