Media regulation must promote accountability, protect public interest - David Tamakloe

President of the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), David Tamakloe

The President of the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), David Tamakloe, has called for a more focused regulatory framework for Ghana’s rapidly evolving online media space.

Speaking as a panel member at the Broadcasters Convention 2026, Mr. Tamakloe said the growing transition from traditional media to digital platforms had created regulatory challenges that needed urgent attention.

He noted that while the traditional media space was subject to some level of regulation, the online environment remained largely unregulated, creating difficulties in distinguishing professional journalism from other forms of content creation.

“Our space is hardly regulated. We are supposed to publish news to the public, but we focus much on public interest without regulations at all,” he said.

According to him, the rapid expansion of online platforms had allowed individuals to produce and distribute information without necessarily adhering to the professional standards associated with journalism.

He said this development was increasingly making it difficult for the public to differentiate between traditional journalism, online news platforms and content produced by individuals on social media.

Mr. Tamakloe argued that the debate should not simply focus on whether there is too much or too little regulation, but rather on what regulation is intended to achieve.

“I think there may not be an issue of over-regulation if we look at the core values of what is being regulated for,” he said.

He explained that if the media was regarded as a public-interest institution, regulations should be designed to protect that public interest while promoting transparency, accountability and ethical media practice.

“If we are considering transparency and accountability that are required in media practice, it limits us, and of course we are thinking about consumers and how to protect people’s rights and ethics,” he said.

He added that such considerations should guide discussions on the appropriate level of regulation for both media organisations and content creators.

Mr. Tamakloe also expressed concern about the increasing spread of misinformation, insults and other forms of harmful content through digital platforms.

He said the rise of smartphones and social media had enabled virtually anyone to create and circulate information, sometimes without regard for journalistic standards.

“We have come to a stage where we are missing the traditional media practice. As journalists, now people take phones and spread misinformation and insults,” he said.

He stressed the need for a clear distinction between journalism and general content creation, arguing that the two should not automatically be treated as the same.

“It might be made clear, and we are all shying away from mentioning that that’s not journalism. Journalism is far different from that,” he said.

The PRINPAG President's comments come amid growing discussions about how Ghana should regulate the country's expanding digital media ecosystem while protecting freedom of expression, public access to information and professional journalism.

He called for a regulatory approach that balances these interests without unnecessarily restricting legitimate media practice or content creation.