Shatta Wale writes open letter to Mahama over social media abuse and defamation

Ghanaian dancehall artist Shatta Wale has penned an open letter to President John Dramani Mahama, urging the development of a balanced legal and regulatory framework to tackle defamation, harassment, and abuse on social media. The letter, dated September 28, 2026, comes after Shatta Wale himself experienced unverified allegations and public ridicule online, giving him a firsthand understanding of the issue.

Shatta Wale believes that while freedom of speech and media freedom under the 1992 Constitution should remain protected, they should not permit threats, harassment, or the spreading of damaging falsehoods. He proposes that Parliament, the Judiciary, security agencies, media organisations, and civil society groups collaborate to create a clear legal framework for addressing serious and proven online misconduct, ensuring due process and independent judicial oversight.

The artiste stresses that the framework must safeguard legitimate criticism, journalism, satire, and political expression, preventing citizens from being punished merely for criticizing the President, public officials, or other public figures. Social media platforms in Ghana should be engaged to enhance account verification, while collaborating with lawful, court-ordered requests to identify accounts involved in harassment or defamation cases.

Shatta Wale suggests that Parliament could consider proportionate penalties for specific conduct deemed criminal, such as short custodial sentences of up to one month, with the focus on deterrence and correction. He cautions against reintroducing criminal libel, which was repealed in Ghana in 2001. He also advocates for public education on responsible online behavior alongside any legal reforms, urging authorities to involve the creative industry in the consultation process.

Shatta Wale emphasizes that the objective is not to silence citizens but to promote responsibility in public discourse while preserving democratic freedoms, stating, "The goal is not to silence citizens, but to restore responsibility to our public conversation while preserving the freedoms on which our democracy stands."