Threat to ban social media remains – LMVCA

Pro-opposition pressure group, the Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) has rekindled the debate about the Police Service's consideration to block social media on Election Day warning that there could be an “elaborate plan” to implement that decision.

In a statement released by the group, the LMVC said intelligence it had picked up suggests there is  “an elaborate plan to block social media, jam frequencies of radio stations and interrupt mobile networks on elections day.”

The group thus implored Ghanaians to “protest any such move aimed at repressing freedom of expression and stifling the free flow of vital information during the election period.”

The LMVCA bemoaned the fact the Inspector General of Police, John Kudalor, on two separate occasion – May 26 and July 19 – threatened to block social media on the eve of, and on, Election Day amidst the backlash from civil society and other stakeholders.

The IGP's reasoning for a possible ban has been to curb the abuse of social media platforms which he said created unnecessary tension and was a conduit for the spread of false information.

The LMVCA condemned the abuse of social media to incite fear and violence in their statement but warned that a possible ban would be “degenerating and backwards to the great strides Ghana has made in the process of democratisation and the entrenchment of civil liberties.”

LMVC Convener, David Asante
The statement also noted that “an outright ban of social media is not the panacea to false reportage.”

Possible conspiracy?
The LMVCA  also introduced a new dimension to the possible social media ban saying that the ban may be geared towards “protecting the political interests of a particular regime.”

“Since access to social media is routed through local internet-based communication providers whose activities are regulated and licensed by a government entity, the National Communications Authority (NCA), it is possible to block social media sites,” it explained.

“We have credible intelligence that there were elaborate plans to take advantage of the November 7, 2016 election date to focus the world’s attention on the USA elections and to divert attention from our own elections.”

Despite parliament voting to maintain December 7, as the Election Day, the LMVC still warned that there still existed “a well-orchestrated plan for a large-scale shutdown of communication networks during the elections. This can only be part of a desperate attempt to stay in power by all means possible.”

Mahama needs to speak out
With all its fears laid out, the LMVC has implored President John Mahama to publically condemn any proposed social media ban as a matter of urgency.

“We also call on the President to, as a matter of urgency, make a categorical statement clearly stating that the undemocratic and diabolic act of stifling the flow of information by blocking social media and jamming media houses would not be executed.”

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana