NDC open to debate as opposition parties shun IGP's social media ban ideas

Opposition political parties have shunned a suggestion by the police service to ban the use of social media on election day, stating it is an abuse of fundamental human rights.

The main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Peoples' National Convention (PNC) and Progressive Peoples' Party (PPP) say the ban is archaic and retrogressive way to contian social media abuse.

But the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has signaled it does not have any hard and definite stance on the proposal yet.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor last Thursday floated the idea that a ban on social media may be needed to forestall any possibility of misinformation leading to violence on voting day November 7.

He said the ban could be from 7am to 5 p.m. when voting ends and picked out an example of Uganda where President Yoweri Museveni slapped a ban on election day.

But NPP Deputy General Secretary, Obiri Boahen has condemned the suggestion as untenable and unacceptable.

“We are not in Uganda, we are not in Kenya” he dismissed the idea as breaching the right to free speech.

PNC General Secretary, Atik Mohammed called the measure, counter-productive. He called on the police service to monitor and punish users who abuse the world’s most influential communication tool.

A policy advisor with the Progressive Peoples’ Party, Kofi Siaw recommended that the police service needs to develop the capacity to counter illegitimate use.

But NDC Deputy General Secretary, Koku Anyhidoho signaled it is too early to discount the suggestion.

Heavy intelligence pointing to imminent danger could necessitate banning social media usage.

He said the security of the state is a supreme interest which cannot be superseded by an interest to post and tweet.

More soon....
Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com|EA