Ghanaian dancehall artiste Shatta Wale has called on President John Dramani Mahama and other stakeholders to establish clear rules for dealing with harmful content on social media without restricting legitimate criticism and freedom of expression.

In an open letter to President Mahama dated September 28, the artiste proposed a framework that would address defamation, harassment and other forms of online abuse while maintaining constitutional protections for free speech.

His intervention follows President Mahama’s recent call for a national discussion on how Ghana should regulate TikTok and other emerging digital platforms. The President has asked the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) to bring relevant stakeholders together to develop recommendations.

Shatta Wale argued that social media has significantly expanded the reach of harmful content, making online abuse a concern not only for celebrities but also for journalists, public officials, traditional leaders, businesspeople and ordinary citizens.

He said any new framework should clearly distinguish between unlawful conduct and protected forms of expression, including political commentary, satire, journalism and criticism of public officials.

The musician also proposed greater cooperation between social media platforms and authorities in cases involving proven abuse, suggesting that account verification could be strengthened using existing identification systems.

However, he cautioned against eliminating anonymity altogether, arguing that anonymous participation in public discussions should not automatically be treated as unlawful.

Shatta Wale further called for independent judicial oversight and due process before sanctions are imposed, while urging authorities to consider proportionate penalties for offences established under any new legislation.

“The goal is not to silence citizens, but to restore responsibility to our public conversation while preserving the freedoms on which our democracy stands,” he said.

Read full statement below;