National conversation should not become an exercise in suppressing dissent — Bagbin

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has called for a balanced approach to the regulation of social media, warning that freedom of expression should not be used to justify threats, incitement or the deliberate dissemination of false information.

Speaking when Parliament reconvened for an emergency sitting on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Mr Bagbin said the growing debate over misinformation and social media regulation must protect citizens’ right to express themselves while ensuring that harmful conduct is subject to accountability.

His comments come at a time of renewed public discussion in Ghana about the regulation of social media platforms, particularly TikTok, following concerns raised by President John Dramani Mahama over misinformation, insults and other harmful content online.

President Mahama has proposed a national stakeholder dialogue to determine how Ghana should regulate TikTok and other emerging media platforms without infringing on freedom of expression.

He has tasked the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) with bringing relevant stakeholders together to deliberate on the matter.

Mr Bagbin welcomed the President’s initiative and urged those involved in the discussions to adopt an inclusive and measured approach.

“The national conversation should, in my view, be broad, inclusive, and measured. It should not become an exercise in suppressing dissent or shielding public officials from legitimate criticism. Neither should legitimate concerns about freedom of expression become an excuse for threats, incitement, deliberate falsehoods or the reckless abuse of others. The President’s proposal itself recognises this balance.”

The Speaker’s comments emphasised the need to distinguish between legitimate criticism and conduct that could threaten individuals or undermine public discourse.

President Mahama had earlier addressed the issue at a Town Hall Meeting with Ghanaians in New York, where he acknowledged the challenge of regulating new media while preserving the constitutional right to freedom of expression.

He said the country needed to collectively determine how it wanted to respond to the growing influence of platforms such as TikTok and assess whether existing enforcement mechanisms were adequate to address emerging concerns.

The discussions are expected to involve stakeholders from the media, civil society, government and other relevant sectors as Ghana considers how best to address harmful online content while preserving legitimate freedom of expression.