US Embassy Cautions Against Censorship in Fight Against Misinformation

The United States Embassy in Ghana has warned against the use of censorship as a strategy to combat misinformation and disinformation, stressing that protecting freedom of expression remains fundamental to democratic governance.

Speaking at the GJA World Press Freedom Day 2026 Honours Night in Accra, the US Embassy’s Press Attaché, Matthew Asada, said efforts to tackle harmful content must not come at the expense of press freedom or constitutional rights.

He noted that while digital‑age challenges such as online child exploitation, deepfakes and coordinated disinformation campaigns require urgent policy responses, sweeping restrictions on speech often become tools of suppression rather than protection.

“Threats to child safety online, deepfakes, and disinformation are genuine policy problems that deserve genuine solutions,” he said.

“But our position — the position of the United States — is that censorship is not the answer. Broad, vaguely worded restrictions on speech too often become tools of control rather than protection.”

Asada emphasised that the goal must be to address the real harms caused by misinformation without undermining the free expression on which democratic societies depend.

“The goal must be to address the real harms without extinguishing the free expression that democracies depend on. That distinction matters here in Ghana.”

He also raised concern about what he described as a rising trend of arrests linked to false news and offensive speech in Ghana. Citing data from the Media Foundation for West Africa, he noted that 14 such arrests have been recorded within the first 16 months of the current administration — nearly double the number documented during the previous government’s entire eight‑year tenure.

“Ghana has recorded 14 arrests linked to false news and offensive speech in less than 16 months,” he said.

While acknowledging the need to prosecute those who attack journalists, Asada cautioned against the misuse of laws regulating false information.

“Prosecuting those who assault journalists is a democratic imperative, but so too is ensuring that laws against false news are not used to silence critics, political opponents, or inconvenient voices.”

The event brought together journalists, media leaders and government officials to mark World Press Freedom Day and honour practitioners for their contributions to Ghana’s democratic development.