Feature: Ghanaians object to shutdown of social media during elections

Left with a few months to Ghana's general election, the seventh in succession, there are fears that the misuse of social media could spell potential danger for the country.

This perhaps prompted a simple question to Ghana's Inspector-General of Police John Kudalor as to whether a similar move would be initiated by the Ghana Police Service.

Kudalor, in response, suggested a possible shutdown of down social media platforms during the country's November general election.

"At one stage, I said that if it becomes critical on the eve and also on the Election Day, we shall block all social media as other countries have done. We're thinking about it," Kudalor told the media last Thursday.

This, he said, was based on the fact that some people had abused the space during voting.

Some African countries have developed the habit of blocking social media platforms before, during and after elections, citing "security concerns".

During the recent elections held in Uganda, for example, the government ordered telecommunication companies to block access to popular social media platforms.

Nigeria is one other country known to have recently indicated its intention to place stricter controls over social media.

Even though the police have not categorically indicated its intention to shut down social media, reactions emanating from television, radio and social media platforms and pressure groups are as vehement as they are repulsive.

Pressure group Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) said: "Blocking or restricting access to social media is a blatant violation of freedom of expression. The 1992 constitution declares in no equivocal terms that 'All persons shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, which shall include freedom of the press and other media'."

Kinna Likimani of the social media platform dedicated to election coverage in Ghana - Ghana Decides - also stated: "We are not a country that subscribes to heavy handed repressive tactics otherwise we will not be in a democracy."

Private legal practitioner, Ace Ankomah, also wanted to know which law would be used to block social media or prevent access to information which is a key democratic right in Ghana.

"The right and freedom of information and communication is absolutely guaranteed and the excuse to it ought to be in accordance with law in a democratic society,"Ankomah said.

Facebookers such as Stephen Saan-Ire regretted the fact that a country traditionally viewed as one of the continent's stronger democracies was seemingly falling into line with autocracies like Uganda.

Dr. Emmanuel Kwesi Aning, Head of the Department of Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), has urged the Police Service not to block social media during the 2016 elections.

Rather, he has suggested that the police must sensitize people to use the platforms wisely during the polls.

In an interview on StarrFM last Friday Aning said the Police Service must engage the citizens of the country to be responsible with the use of social media on Election Day rather than shutting it down.

"Keeping it open strengthens our democracy and tests the resilience of our people," Dr. Aning said.

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) also says it will not allow the Ghana Police to go ahead with its intended decision to block all social media platforms on Election Day.

Communications Director of the NPP, Nana Akomea told local radio Adom fm the move would not only cause chaos but would affect transmission of information as well as operations of the traditional media.

Nana Akomea advised the police to rather put mechanisms in place to make a routine check on social media and traditional media instead of blocking those platforms. Endit