The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has urged the National Communications Authority, the Ghana Police Service, and the Attorney General’s Office to work together to quickly identify individuals disseminating misinformation and disinformation via electronic media.
During the launch of the 2024 National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) in Accra, Owusu-Ekuful emphasized that prompt action is crucial to deter others from using electronic platforms to incite public fear and disrupt essential services with false information.
“Legally, spreading misinformation and disinformation is a criminal offence under our law. Section 208(1) of the Criminal Code makes it a misdemeanour to publish false statements that cause public alarm.
“A few successful prosecutions have been had but I think we need to increase the use of these deterrent mechanisms so that people will know that it is not okay to use electronic media to deliberately spread false information to create fear and panic amongst the population.
“I will urge the National Communications Authority, the Ghana Police Service, and the Attorney General’s Office to expedite action.”