Ghanaian dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale, is advocating for clear laws to address online defamation, harassment and abuse while protecting freedom.
Shatta Wale’s proposal follows President John Dramani Mahama’s call for a national discussion on regulating TikTok and other emerging digital platforms in Ghana.
President Mahama, speaking at a town hall meeting with members of the Ghanaian community in New York on September 25, expressed concern about the spread of misinformation, insults and other harmful content across social media platforms.
He therefore tasked the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) with engaging relevant stakeholders on possible regulations for emerging media platforms, including discussions on whether the police should have a role in enforcing any new framework.
In an open letter dated September 28, Shatta Wale urged President Mahama to ensure that any measures to address online abuse maintain a balance between accountability for harmful conduct and the protection of constitutional freedoms.
Shatta Wale said his views were influenced in part by his experiences in the public eye, alleging that he has, over the years, been subjected to unverified claims and public ridicule.
Shatta Wale noted that harmful commentary predates social media, particularly within parts of entertainment discourse. He argued that the emergence of digital platforms has intensified the issue by enabling individuals to reach large audiences almost immediately.
He stressed that online abuse now affects a broad section of society, including traditional leaders, businesspeople, journalists, public officials and ordinary citizens who may be subjected to harassment or defamatory content.
Shatta Wale called for stronger accountability for online abuse while emphasising that freedom of expression and media freedom guaranteed under Ghana’s 1992 Constitution must also be safeguarded.
Shatta Wale called for Parliament, the Judiciary, security agencies, media organisations and civil society to collaborate on clear guidelines for addressing serious and substantiated cases of online misconduct.
He further proposed that any new regulatory framework should guarantee due process and independent judicial oversight, to prevent legitimate expression from being treated as a criminal offence.
The musician also urged that legitimate criticism, journalism, satire and political expression be clearly protected under any new framework.
He stressed that criticism of the President, public officials or other public figures should not, by itself, be grounds for punishment.
Shatta Wale also proposed measures to identify the individuals operating social media accounts in cases where serious misconduct has been established.
He suggested that social media platforms operating in Ghana could collaborate with relevant authorities to improve account verification, possibly using existing identification frameworks such as the Ghana Card and SIM registration system.
He, however, cautioned that such measures should not require every individual engaging in public discourse to disclose their identity or give up the option of remaining anonymous.
Instead, he proposed that social media platforms respond to lawful, court-authorised requests to disclose the identities of account holders in cases where serious harassment or defamation has been proven.
On sanctions, Shatta Wale proposed that any online behaviour Parliament ultimately criminalises should be met with penalties that are proportionate to the offence.
He suggested that, where necessary, custodial sentences of up to one month could be considered, while stressing that the primary aim should be deterrence and rehabilitation rather than punishment for its own sake.
He further urged lawmakers to ensure that any new legislation does not amount to a return of criminal libel, which Ghana abolished in 2001.
Beyond legal reforms, Shatta Wale also advocated incorporating public education on responsible online conduct into any new measures.
He further called on authorities to include representatives of the creative industry in consultations on any new regulations, noting that entertainers have firsthand experience with the effects of online abuse and defamatory content.
Shatta Wale said any proposed reforms should promote greater accountability in Ghana’s digital space while preserving the right to legitimate criticism and dissent.
He stated, “Your Excellency, the goal is not to silence the citizens, but to restore responsibility to our public conversation while preserving the freedoms on which our democracy stands”.
He concluded by saying he is ready to contribute to the national dialogue on addressing harmful online behaviour while safeguarding freedom of expression.
The stakeholder consultations proposed by President Mahama are expected to bring together the GJA, MFWA, media organisations, the police, civil society groups, legal and human-rights experts, content creators and other relevant institutions.
— SHATTA WALE (@shattawalegh) September 28, 2026
