Editorial: Mahama Must Clarify His Social Media Position

President John Dramani Mahama's proposal for a national conversation on regulating social media platforms like TikTok is a welcome move for every Ghanaian who values a healthy discourse. With social media reshaping communication, information access and accountability, it has unfortunately also become a breeding ground for misinformation, personal attacks and criminal conduct.

At a town hall meeting in New York last September, Mahama suggested that stakeholders should help determine the best way to regulate this new media landscape. The Chronicle agrees that this collaborative approach is essential. However, the regulation of social media should not solely fall to politicians or security agencies. Rather, journalists, civil society groups, legal experts, technology specialists and the users themselves should all contribute to the discussion.

The goal should be clear rules that protect legitimate expression while firmly addressing criminal behavior, without allowing criticism of government to be treated as criminal conduct. This is why the President must clarify his own position. In September 2025, Mahama had warned against hate speech and incitement on social media, stating that those responsible would face the law and even warning that the National Signal Bureau had technology to trace violators through their IP addresses.

Yet, a year later, the President claims not to be aware of many arrests involving social media users and TikTokers, often learning about them through the media. While the President cannot control every police operation, his public statements carry significant weight. When he warns that social media offenders will be traced and punished, his words set public expectations about enforcement.

Therefore, The Chronicle calls on Mahama to clarify the distinction between his 2025 warning and his current stance. The focus should not be on whether social media abuse should be punished—in cases where it violates the law, it should—but whether these laws are being applied consistently and impartially. Concerns have already been raised by the Media Foundation for West Africa about arrests linked to false news and offensive speech.

These issues warrant proper examination and should not be dismissed. While condemning the abuse of social media, it is equally important to prevent government actors from using free speech as a shield for character assassination, threats or spreading unverified allegations, while simultaneously tolerating similar behavior from their supporters.

The proposed stakeholder discussion must go beyond TikTok and examine the broader political culture surrounding social media, establish clear standards for unlawful online conduct, provide safeguards for legitimate criticism, and ensure transparent and even-handed enforcement. Mahama has sparked a crucial conversation. We urge him to use this opportunity to create a framework that protects both Ghana's democratic freedoms and its citizens from genuine online abuse.

Sanity must prevail in Ghana's social media space, but this sanity can only be achieved through clear rules and fair enforcement, not selective application of the law.