Don’t go there – GJA to IGP over proposed social media ban

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has appealed to the police service to rescind its decision to shut down social media platforms during the 2016 elections.

The umbrella body of journalists in the country said the idea will adversely affect the operations of the traditional media since they rely heavily on social media platforms for story ideas.

According to the police, it is contemplating blocking all social media outlets as a means to ease tension as well as limit others who operate behind the networks to cause fear and panic.

“At one stage I said that if it becomes critical on the eve and also on the Election Day, we shall block all social media as other countries have done. We’re thinking about it,” IGP John Kudalor told the media Thursday.

“We are also thinking about the other alternative that the police should be IT compliant and get our own social media [account] to be able to stop these things on time,” Kudalor added. “We are looking at the variables and come D-Day, we’ll come out with a decision.”

Reacting to the IGP’s assertion at the same forum, the GJA President Affail Monney said the law enforcement agency’s move to “deal a surgical blow” to social media will not favour the mainstream media.

“We’ll humbly appeal to him [IGP] not to go there. Social media are cousins of traditional media because we rely on them for tips. So we beg him not to contemplate it,” Monney stated.