“CSA bill dangerous, it could lead to jail time for posting ‘offensive’ comments” – Oppong Nkrumah

By
Makay
-
0
221
Oppong Nkrumah

Former Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has expressed concern over the proposed amendment to the Cybersecurity Act bill drafted under the Mahama administration.

According to Oppong Nkrumah, the cybersecurity bill is dangerous and could lead to jail time for posting “offensive” comments on WhatsApp chat groups.

 Kojo Oppong Nkrumah cautioned that criminalising free speech to the extent that individuals could be arrested for sharing offensive remarks in a WhatsApp chat poses a threat to the nation’s democracy.

The lawmaker argued President Mahama had earlier hinted at plans to use national security agencies to monitor social media users.

Speaking to the media, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah stated, “From what I have seen, as a former information minister, this draft is dangerous though it is not surprising”.

It is not surprising because the president first announced it that they are going to use the National security apparatus to go after people who make comments on social media that they consider, for whatever reason, hate speech, under whatever they consider unfavourable, they will search for your IP address and get the security apparatus to go after you.

The president himself said it, so it is not surprising that his minister himself is now following with a draft bill with such wild provisions in there”.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah added, “What is dangerous about this is that over the last set of decades, various countries have been moving away from criminalising speech. Other remedies for speech may be deemed unfavourable, most of them civil but not necessarily criminalising it”.

Even the criminal libel and sedition act was repealed by the Kufuor administration. There are still remnants of laws that seek to criminalise speech and the publication of false news with the intent of fear and panic is one of those that needs to be repealed”.

He further highlighted, “Instead of repealing this to advance democratic freedoms, the government is now seeking through this draft that it wants to consult on to enact legislation that will now even ensure that when you put up a comment on your WhatsApp chat groups and they find it offensive, you could go to jail.

It is a very dangerous encroachment into the area of free speech; the government needs to tread cautiously. I am hoping that when the consultation starts, the government will see wisdom in backtracking”.   

The Cybersecurity Amendment Bill, 2025, which is being introduced by the Communication Minister, Sam George, has come under intense criticism following the proposed amended Cybersecurity Act, 1038.

The CSA amendment bill seeks to gain sweeping control over Ghana’s cyberspace and also impose a 30% levy on industry players.

Many Ghanaians have criticised the bill, arguing that the CSA, which seeks to protect Ghanaians, rather poses a significant threat to Ghana’s digital security landscape.

According to the netizen, the CSA is the most dangerous bill Ghana has ever drafted, which quietly gives the CSA power to arrest, freeze assets, and access your data, all in the name of “cybersecurity”.

Meanwhile, the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) are asking Ghanaians for their input to shape the country’s digital defences as the government launches a public review of its proposed cybersecurity update.

“We need laws that match the speed of digital innovation,” the CSA noted.

However, the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), designed to provide technical oversight and promote digital safety, has now ignited debate on social media, with Ghanaians arguing that it could now act as an armed enforcement body capable of conducting arrests, searches, and seizures without traditional police oversight.

Netizens argue that the bill could lead to abuse of power, intimidation of opponents and critics, and the suppression of online views under the guise of cybersecurity enforcement.

Watch the video below: