Shatta Wale petitions Mahama over social media abuse, proposes 7-point framework
Dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale, has written an open letter to President John Dramani Mahama calling for a balanced legal framework to address defamation, harassment and abuse on social media.
In the letter dated September 28, 2026, and issued from the Office of the Shatta Movement, the musician said he was writing in reference to the President’s recent remarks at a Town Hall Meeting with the Ghanaian community in New York, where Mr. Mahama expressed concern about misinformation and insults on TikTok and other platforms, and the difficulty of regulating new media without undermining freedom of expression.
Describing himself as a creative who has for years been the subject of unverified allegations and public ridicule, Shatta Wale said the culture of online abuse did not begin with social media.
“It grew out of sections of entertainment commentary, spread into comment sections, and has now been amplified by platforms that allow anyone with a phone to broadcast instantly. Today, traditional leaders, businesspeople, journalists, public officials and ordinary citizens are all exposed to the same harm,” he wrote.
While stressing that freedom of speech and of the media, as guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution, must remain protected, he said it should not be mistaken for a licence to threaten, harass or knowingly spread damaging falsehoods.
He therefore submitted seven proposals for consideration:
- That Parliament, the Judiciary, security agencies, media institutions and civil society develop a clearly defined legal framework for serious and proven online misconduct, with full due process and independent judicial oversight.
- That the framework expressly protects legitimate criticism, journalism, satire and political expression, insisting that no citizen should be punished for criticising a President, public official or public figure.
- That platforms operating in Ghana be engaged to strengthen account verification, building on the existing Ghana Card SIM registration, and to cooperate with lawful, court-ordered requests to identify accounts behind proven harassment or defamation, without requiring every citizen to surrender anonymity as a condition of speaking.
- That, where Parliament deems specific conduct criminal, proportionate penalties, including short custodial sentences not exceeding one month, be considered, with the aim of deterrence and correction rather than punishment for its own sake.
- That, in keeping with Ghana’s repeal of criminal libel in 2001, any new measure be carefully designed so as not to reintroduce criminal libel in another form.
- That public education on responsible online conduct accompany any legal reform.
- That the creative industry be consulted early, given its long first-hand experience of the problem.
“Your Excellency, the goal is not to silence citizens, but to restore responsibility to our public conversation while preserving the freedoms on which our democracy stands,” he added.
The letter was copied to the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice, the Minister for the Interior, the Inspector-General of Police, and the National Media Commission.
Shatta Wale said he remains available to contribute to the national dialogue.
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