Social media ban: NDC behind scheme – Korsah

The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) is behind the “useless and bogus” proposition regarding the ban on social media activities on Election Day made by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director of Elections for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, has alleged.

According to Mr Korsah, this “provocative” proposition feeds into the agenda of the government to hold on to power after the elections and so “it will be fiercely resisted”.

"I can see that it feeds into a certain machination by people to hold on to power. People are not comfortable with the numerous exposés that are going on. The information that is being shared concerns everybody so why is anybody panicking?" he asked rhetorically.

In spite of the numerous condemnations from individuals, civil society organisation and pressure groups regarding the idea of banning all social media activities on election day, the IGP John Kudalor has indicated that the ban will be implemented if it becomes necessary.

Reacting to the intransigence of the IGP on this matter, Mr Korsah, speaking in an interview with Emefa Apawu, host of Class91.3FM’s 505 News on Friday May 27, suggested the Police would need to do a proper evaluation of the proposal because it had the propensity of creating more tensions in the country.

“They should go and do a proper evaluation of the situation or what they are calling for…because social media has come to be part of us and you cannot do this. In any case there are legal implications, have they thought of it?” he quizzed. “There is a huge legal implication.”

He further stated that the proposition will only incite the public to anger.

“This proposition is a call for incitement, it has the potential to provoke people to anger. There are more serious issues of threat to us in this country than this. In any case, wanting to clamp down on free speech and expression is rather more problematic. If you don’t want people to express and voice their feelings out, you suppress them; in that regard you are leaving them with no space to rebel,” he said, adding: “You don’t need this unnecessary provocation. They should find ways to regulate it and not this method.”