Sections of the Electronic Communications and Criminal Offences Acts that are being used to intimidate journalists in the nation have been requested for immediate repeal by a coalition of media organizations in Ghana.
They denounced the increasing frequency with which these two laws were being used to stifle free speech and expression, particularly as they related to journalists.
The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), the Private Newspaper Publishers Association (PRINPAG), the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) are all represented in the alliance.
Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the GJA, spoke on behalf of the coalition at a media event yesterday at the International Press Center, lamenting the rate at which influential individuals were using these two laws as a shield.
Bringing press and speech violations against journalists to court when there are civil remedies available
Sulemana Braimah, executive director of the MFWA; Cecil Sunkwa-Mills, president of the GIBA; and Nii Laryea Sowah, executive secretary of PRINPAG, were all present at the event.
Additionally present were the GJA Regional Chairman for Greater Accra, Charles Benoni Okine; the Graphic Business' deputy editor, Edmund Kofi Yeboah; the GJA's public relations officer, Rebecca Ekpe; and the GJA's general secretary, Edmund Kofi Yeboah.
the rules
"A person who, by means of electronic communications service, knowingly sends a communication that is false or misleading and likely to prejudice the effectiveness of life-saving service or to endanger the safety of any person, shall be subject to the provisions of Section 76 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775)."
Upon summary conviction for an offense, a ship, aircraft, vessel, or vehicle is subject to a fine of no more than 3,000 penalty units, a period of imprisonment of no more than five years, or both.
Similar to this, Section 208 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) states that it is a misdemeanor for someone to publish or reproduce a statement, rumor, or report that is likely to cause the public fear and alarm or to disturb the peace while knowing or having reason to believe that the statement, rumor, or report is false.
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