The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has expressed concern over the application of Ghana’s laws that criminalise false publication.
Ghana’s laws on false publication stem from Section 208 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act (Act 29) and Section 76 of the Electronic Communications Act (Act 775).
Section 208 criminalises publishing false news with the intent to cause fear and alarm to the public, while Section 76 addresses knowingly sending false or misleading communications that could endanger people or life-saving services, with penalties including fines and imprisonment.
The law has been used against several journalists and activists in recent times, the latest being Democracy Hub member Wendell Nana Yaw Yeboah, who faces allegations of making false claims against three regional ministers.
Reacting to this at a Media-Security Dialogue organized by MFWA in Accra on Thursday, November 27, Braimah described the law’s application as problematic, noting that cases of false publication should instead fall under possible defamation.
“This is becoming a little bit problematic. If somebody says something about me and it is not true, I have the choice to go to see you, to demand retraction and apology, to demand a rejoinder, and as I said, I can go to court and see for defamation,” he said.
The dialogue was part of a three-year MFWA initiative on “Countering corruption through accountability journalism and an improved freedom of expression environment in Ghana.”
It brings together security agencies, media stakeholders, academics, civil society actors, and government representatives in Tamale, Kumasi, and Accra to strengthen collaboration and foster trust between journalists and law enforcement.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, assured that the Police remain committed to strengthening their relationship with the media.
“Our relationship with the media dates back years. The media has been a very critical stakeholder in all our operations. We have worked closely. We’ve made a lot of gains, but of course, our relationship hasn’t been without challenges,” DCOP Ansah-Akrofi said.


Floods left only one chicken alive – Dawhenya poultry farmer cries out for help
'Everybody should do something to help' – Bawumia calls for public support for f...
Order Bills Micro Credit Limited and Richard Quaye to pay me 10% of all profits ...
Mahama launches Tema Integrated Industrial Park
24-Hour Economy faces collapse if nuisance taxes not removed — GFL warns
UTAG-UCC rejects GTEC's proposed harmonisation of academic promotion guidelines ...
Police arrest suspect over robbery, rape and assault in Koforidua
Nigerian cyber fraud suspect wanted by INTERPOL and FBI arrested in Accra
Ghana's 593.2mm rainfall in June highest since 1995 as floods kill 12
169.2mm June 29 rain disaster warns Ghana of more danger ahead