Home - People deliberately spread falsehoods online knowing they'll face no punishment – Bobby Banson

Legal practitioner, Bobby Banson has criticised what he describes as an increasing trend of people deliberately spreading false information on social media because they believe they will face no criminal consequences.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on September 26, 2026, he said some individuals had become more intentional in making statements they know to be false, particularly when targeting public figures and public office holders.

“Between 2000 and 2026, people are becoming more intentional about saying things that they know are false that affect the social fibre… so people do these things for whatever they want, knowing that there is no criminal punishment,” he said.

According to him, the absence of criminal punishment in some cases appears to embolden individuals to make claims that can damage the reputation of others, raising concerns about the limits of freedom of speech in the digital age.

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He stressed that freedom of expression should not be interpreted as a licence to deliberately denigrate people who occupy public office.

“So, you cannot say freedom of speech allows you to denigrate people who hold public offices,” he indicated.

His comments come amid a national debate over the appropriate response to harmful online content, particularly following the detention of nurse Salomey Awiti Bafoh, who has been accused of helping a UK-based TikToker publish and circulate false information.

The allegation is before the courts, with an Accra High Court denying her bail on Friday, September 25, 2026.

MRA/EB

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