Professor Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, a distinguished Judge of the African Court and Justice of the Court of Appeal, has proposed legislation aimed at enhancing legal frameworks concerning social media offences within Ghana. Notably, he advocated for the consideration of rendering certain social media offences universal, irrespective of the geographic location in which they occur.
In his keynote address at the 5th Faculty of Law Eminent Legal Scholars and Lawyers Public Lecture Series , held on Wednesday, 27th March, 2024 at the Faculty Law Auditorium of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Justice Adjei, underscored the imperative of adapting legal mechanisms to the evolving landscape of digital communication. Professor Adjei's proposal reflects a proactive approach toward addressing the complexities of jurisdiction in an interconnected world, where the boundaries of virtual platforms often transcend geographical borders.
He stated that the innovation around social media has over the years transformed the way people exercise their freedom of speech and communicate. However, he said that there has been some destruction from social media which appears to outweigh the positives. These may include; Excessive addiction, lack of guidance and irresponsible use of social media leading to several consequences including cyberbullying. He urged Ghana to adopt measures to make social media offences universal emphasising the need for concerted efforts to mitigate the negative impacts of social media, such as cyberbullying and dissemination of sensitive information.
As a respected legal luminary, Professor Adjei's suggestion prompts critical reflection on the harmonisation of legal standards to effectively combat cyber-related transgressions. Such considerations are paramount in safeguarding digital integrity, promoting responsible online conduct, and upholding the rule of law in contemporary society. During the Lecture Series on the theme; “Freedom of Expression and its Legal Consequences in the Era of Social Media,’’ Professor Justice Adjei suggested that through international treaties, offenders residing abroad could be extradited to face prosecution in Ghana.
Particularly, he highlighted offences related to the disclosure of sensitive information concerning national security, health, morals, territorial integrity, or public safety as areas where extradition treaties could be beneficial. "The State should lobby for treaties that would make some of the offences on disclosure of information on national security, protection of health and morals, and territorial integrity or public safety extraditable to enable her to get the audience living abroad who openly object to the offences committed on social media. Those offences extradited to Ghana to face prosecution," he explained.
In his address, the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law of KNUST, Dr. Chris Adomako-Kwakye, indicated that the proliferation of social media has undoubtedly transformed communication and freedom of expression. However, concerns over its negative repercussions, including addiction and cyberbullying, have prompted calls for regulatory measures, hence the theme for the lecture.
Dr. Adomako-Kwakye advised the participants to be careful to avoid any unpleasant legal consequences. "Social media is a space for people to connect through the internet. Any information released is disseminated in a split second. It is therefore important to navigate social media cautiously and be mindful of its traps," he stressed.
The Provost of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, KNUST, Professor Charles Ofosu Marfo on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, advised stakeholders and institutions to try to curb this menace. “As social media becomes more interwoven with educational practices, Institutions require strong strategies to guarantee their social media use complies with the legitimate educational aims. Parents, teachers, educational institutions, and the government have a vital role in leading the society towards responsible usage of social media and digital citizenship by establishing clear standards and policies which will apply expectations for stakeholders to guarantee a responsible ethical use of social media,” he said.