Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, has questioned the approach being taken by President John Dramani Mahama to address abusive language and harmful content on social media.

According to Anyidoho in an X post on September 24, 2026, the plan may not succeed in dealing with the people behind the abuse because many of them are not members of recognised media bodies or institutions.

Mahama calls for national dialogue on hate speech, digital content

His comments follow President Mahama’s directive to the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to organise a national stakeholder engagement on hate speech, abusive language and other harmful content on social media and emerging digital platforms.

However, Anyidoho wants the government to first answer questions about how these institutions will deal with people who operate outside mainstream media.

“As a Communications/PR/Media, Consultant/Practitioner/Expert, I ask: 1. What real role are all these Institutions supposed to play? 2. What roadmap is the GJA and MFWA supposed to put in place? 3. The persons involved in the use of abusive language do not belong to the GJA nor any recognized Institution,” he wrote.

He said the abuse being discussed largely takes place on social media rather than within traditional media organisations.

Anyidoho also questioned how the proposed framework would deal with social media personalities he believes are linked to political parties and politicians.

“What is going on, is not taking place within the realms of mainstream media so what do you want the National Media Commission to do?

“The people involved are affiliated to political parties and politicians per the statements they make openly. How are the above institutions going to regulate the activities of people who are on social media doing the bidding of politicians?” he questioned.

“Religious Bodies are being insulted on a daily basis by a particular character doing the bidding of his paymasters and you expect the Religious Bodies to avail themselves to be insulted more?” he quizzed.

Anyidoho said the discussion should focus on what he described as the source of the culture of paying people to attack political opponents online.

“Why don’t we stop lying to ourselves: we know the origin (real source) of this barbaric culture of paying scoundrels to insult political opponents. So, let’s stop playing the ostrich and take the bull by the horn,” he argued.

‘Ghana will not belong to any family’ – Koku Anyidoho

He warned that addressing the issue without dealing with what he considers its root cause would not end the practice.

“If we don’t stop the pretense and deal with the Genesis of this disgusting social canker/cancer, we shall never get to the Revelation of the matter, and the Net Losers in this matter know themselves,” he warned.

As a Communications/PR/Media, Consultant/Practitioner/Expert, I ask:

1. What real role are all these Institutions supposed to play?

2. What roadmap is the GJA and MFWA supposed to put in place?

3. The persons involved in the use of abusive language do not belong to the GJA… pic.twitter.com/8d90994vSb

— Samuel Koku Anyidoho🇬🇭 (@KokuAnyidoho) September 23, 2026