Mahama calls for national debate on regulation of TikTok, other new media platforms
By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent President John Dramani Mahama called for a national conversation on regulating TikTok and other digital platforms during a town hall meeting with the Ghanaian community. The event took place in New York City on Friday, September 25, 2026. The discussion centered on information integrity, algorithmic amplification, and the […]
President John Dramani Mahama urged a national discussion on regulating platforms like TikTok during a New York City town hall meeting on September 25, 2026. The conversation focused on topics such as information integrity, algorithmic amplification, and distinguishing free speech from abusive content. Mahama stressed that digital platforms allow anyone with a mobile phone to publish information, creating challenges for society in maintaining information integrity.
Unverified claims spread rapidly on these platforms due to algorithmic amplification, a problem facing countries worldwide. Mahama emphasized his resilience against personal attacks, describing his tough political history as "crocodile skin." He questioned the effectiveness of a hands-off approach regarding citizens arrested for insulting him, urging the audience to decide on the appropriate balance between free expression and accountability.
Mahama suggested involving key journalism and advocacy groups to shape future media guidelines, emphasizing the need for clear statutory definitions to prevent subjective enforcement of laws governing online speech.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
