'Freedom of expression does not require insults' – Bagbin cautions Ghanaians

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has raised concerns about what he describes as the increasingly “intemperate character” of Ghana’s national discourse, particularly the growing use of insults, threats and hate speech.

According to him, the trend has become more worrying with the increasing use of social media and other digital platforms as major avenues for public discussion.

Speaking during Parliament’s emergency sitting on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Bagbin said social media had played an important role in expanding Ghana’s democratic space by allowing more citizens to participate in national affairs.

He noted that the platforms had given Ghanaians opportunities to share their views, criticise public officials, expose wrongdoing and demand accountability.

“The expansion of social media or should I say new media and other digital platforms has undoubtedly enlarged the democratic space. It has given citizens unprecedented opportunities to participate in national conversations, express opinions, criticize public officials, expose wrongdoing and demand accountability. These are gains which must be protected,” he said.

The Speaker stressed that freedom of speech and expression, as well as freedom of the press and other media, are protected under Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.

He said political disagreements, criticism of public officials, satire and dissent were necessary elements of a functioning democracy.

However, Bagbin cautioned that the exercise of these freedoms should not come at the expense of the quality of public debate.

“But freedom of expression does not require the degradation of our public discourse. Increasingly, disagreement is expressed not through reasoned arguments but through insults,” he said.

He urged lawmakers and the public to pay greater attention to how national issues are discussed, stressing the need to protect democratic freedoms while promoting civility and respect in public conversations.

His comments come amid growing debate over the use of abusive and threatening language on social media, with several cases involving online commentary attracting public attention.

The Speaker called for greater reflection on the tone of national discourse and encouraged Ghanaians to engage in disagreements through constructive debate rather than personal attacks.

NA/MA