The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has cautioned Ghanaians against taking the country’s democratic achievements for granted, warning that the growing use of insults, threats and abusive language in public discourse could undermine Ghana’s democratic progress.
Speaking to lawmakers on Tuesday, September 29, as Parliament reconvened for an emergency sitting, Mr Bagbin expressed concern over the increasingly hostile nature of political discussions, particularly on digital platforms. He noted that political disagreements were often being reduced to personal attacks, with opponents portrayed as enemies and allegations made without sufficient regard for their accuracy or potential consequences.
According to the Speaker, he had received messages from senior citizens across the political divide expressing concern about the trend. He said his own experiences had further reinforced the need to safeguard the country’s democratic gains. “I have them, and I can give them as evidence,” Mr Bagbin said, referring to the messages he had received.
He also endorsed President John Dramani Mahama’s call for the Ghana Journalists Association and the Media Foundation for West Africa to organise a national stakeholder engagement on hate speech, abusive online content and responsible digital communication. However, Mr Bagbin stressed that efforts to address abusive conduct must not be used to suppress legitimate dissent or shield public officials from criticism. “We must protect citizens against genuinely unlawful conduct without criminalising disagreement,” he said.
The Speaker further urged parliamentary committees, particularly the Human Rights Committee, to play a more active role in investigating alleged abuses and engaging relevant constitutional bodies, regulatory institutions and civil society organisations. He emphasised that any measures introduced to address the problem must be constitutional and proportionate. Public officials, he said, should be protected from threats and unlawful conduct while remaining open to legitimate criticism.
