Shutdown social media if necessary – Group

If blocking social media for less than 24 hours will guarantee peace in Ghana on the day of election and beyond, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. John Kudalor, must not hesitate to carry out the action, Amass Ghana has suggested.

The Inspector General of Police stated that the Ghana Police Service is considering shutting down social media services during the November 7 general elections.

The move, according to him, is to curtail abuse of the social media platforms where members of the general public hide behind them to create tension.

His suggestion has been met with backlash by some members of the public, political parties and the Ghana Journalist Association.

But Amass Ghana, a peace advocacy network has urged the IGP not to be deterred from banning social media services if it could plunge Ghana into a state of anarchy. This was captured in a release copied to Peacefmonline.com.

They emphatically stated that they believes the IGP is on top of issues and is more enlightened on security details than several individuals and groups who have lambasted him for suggesting social media services could be banned on election day if the need be.

Full statement below

Amass Ghana has observed with great censure the commentary emanating from the public, political parties, Ghana Journalist Association, The Press Foundation and some persons from the inky fraternity pooh-poohing an open statement made by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. John Kudalor, hinting that, social media will face a temporal shutdown on the eve of the impending general elections, thus if things get critical.

Mr. John Kudalor was clear about the shutdown, “at one stage I was even saying that if it becomes critical on the eve of the election day we shall block all social media as other countries have done”, adding that if people are churning out the type of information which are quite false, then why not? The security of this nation is paramount.”

Amass Ghana is of the view that, no person is more enlightened on security details than the IGP as far as the security of this country is concern so why do we hear people with no security expertise calling the shots? One would have thought that those against the move were much better informed on the social media issues and its negative repercussions than such naked display of crass ignorant and infantile gimmicks.

We think this country is knee-deep in a state of conundrums, with tension oozing from every corner of this country, war drums are lying deep in our subconscious mind as thick as pebbles on the seashore, so shutting social media should be the least of our problems.

The problems which can derail us of our peace is far more critical than that of social media, with the arguments over a credible voter register, which have been scorched on our memories like a tyre tracks on virgin snow, so we think the media, politicians, public etc. should give it another lick.

Amass Ghana, a peace advocacy network, closely observing the activities trending on social media believes that, if issues of social media are not addressed properly, the peace we have all dotted-on can go bye-bye in a blink of an eye.

On this note, we will want to entreat Mr. John Kudalor not to hesitate to block social media platforms, should need be, besides if blocking social media for less than 24 hours will guarantee a safe sail through the eve of the elections then what are we to lose?

Thank you

Long Live Ghana

Long Live AmassGhana

…..signed……

Mr. Kofi Asamoah-Ababio President