GJA lauds move to suspend Dec 7 social media blackout

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has lauded President John Mahama for his resolve not to heed to calls to ban social media on Election Day.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) John Kudalor was contemplating a social media ban to safeguard the peace and security of the country on December 7 but was met with stiff opposition from a cross-section of Ghanaians, including civil society organisations.

However, at the launch of the National Democratic Congress’ campaign for Election 2016 in Cape Coast on August 14, President Mahama said government was not considering such a ban.

Speaking to Class News after the president’s revelation, GJA president Affail Monney said government’s decision not to ban social media was great news.

“It wasn’t in the supreme national interest to even attempt to ban social media. Social media as we all know has become an integral part of the media system. It has empowered ordinary Ghanaians to receive [quick] information.

Social media has also come to expand the freedom of expression landscape to the extent that the frontiers continue to be pushed further and further…” he stated, adding: “Any ban will heighten suspicion of fishy attempts to skew the election results in a particular direction and this will provoke a backlash… So, we think government has done the right thing by not even considering the option.”