Social media a threat to December polls - Mahama

The wanton publication of falsehood on various social media platforms is a serious security concern in relation to the December 7 polls, President John Dramani Mahama has lamented.

“The threat to national security, when someone starts posting false results and things then people believe that some party is winning and then the eventual outcome is that the party did not win. Then people say the results were doctored, will create a major problem for us”, Mr Mahama said.

“Because of the anonymity of social media, people concoct anything,” the president said, adding that in the instance where people post fake election results unto such media, it would be worrying.

Mr Mahama explained that such conduct could cause an impression that the authentic results from the EC had been doctored, a situation which could create chaos.

He, therefore, encouraged a close collaboration “between all stakeholders to agree on the authentic source of information for election results”.

Mr Mahama, who was addressing various labour unions at the Flagstaff House on Tuesday, November 15, charged Organised Labour to take a keen interest in solutions for social media threats.

He said there was a need to create a reliable source which will be endorsed by all the parties.

He indicated that he had been a victim of countless attacks but always regarded it “as part of our occasional hazards”.

Mr Mahama assured that he would do everything possible to make sure that the country goes through a successful, free and fair election on December 7.