Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister-designate, Emmanuel Bombande has rebuffed plans by the Inspector General of Police to ban social media on election day.
He rather urged the IGP and Ghanaians in general to rather explore the positive sides of social media to the benefit of the nation.
Mr. Bombande responding to a question during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee Friday was emphatic, “I will not advise that we shut down social media”.
The idea of banning social media has been rejected by many including the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas who said such an attempt is aimed at restricting the democratic space which the UN is strongly against.
Nonetheless, the IGP Mr. John Kudalor has maintained that the idea has not been shelved as Ghana goes to the polls in December.
“If people are churning out the type of information which are quite false then why not? The security of this nation is paramount,” he told the media.
But Emmanuel Bombande indicated that it would be defeatist if the social media platforms that have been shutdown are reopened after the election.
“…because when you shut it down and later on you open it, you are indirectly saying that continue to be irresponsible but at a certain point we will shut you down and then we will open it up again.
“I think there is onerous responsibility on all of us that every tool that is available should be used responsibly.”
The security expert is rather calling on Ghanaians to uphold the value of imbibing in the younger generation the culture of respecting elders and those in leadership.
He is confident by so doing people will not take to social media to cast aspersion on people and inflame passion.
Mr. Bombande is a co-founder of the West Africa Network for Peace-building (WANEP) and was the Executive Director of the organisation. He is a peace-building practitioner, international trainer in conflict mitigation and prevention across Africa and beyond with a strong background in conflict analysis.
By Isaac Essel | 3news.com | Ghana
