Don't hide behind social media and peddle lies - Sammi Awuku warns

Member of Parliament (MP) for Akuapem North, Sammi Awuku, has cautioned against faceless individuals hiding behind social media to peddle false information.

Although an advocate of freedom of speech, he advised social media users not to abuse that freedom by deliberately circulating unverified claims that could damage the reputations of public officials.

Reacting to reports that he had been arrested and detained by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the former NPP National Organiser, speaking on UTV, vehemently denied being arrested or invited by the anti-graft agency and urged the public to verify information before sharing it online.

“I have not been invited and I am not under investigation,” he stated, adding that “I am a defender of free speech and I have said it on this platform that the only way to confront hate speech is with more speech.”

According to him, people who come across reports about public officials should take the necessary steps to establish their authenticity before sharing them.

“My advice to the young people who share such news is that there is nothing wrong with finding out and cross-checking, but when it becomes deliberate, it becomes a problem,” he stated.

Sammi Awuku said the proliferation of false reports about public figures could have serious consequences for their reputations, particularly when such claims are presented as facts.

He therefore urged social media users to exercise greater responsibility when reporting or sharing allegations involving individuals, stressing the need for verification before disseminating information online.