Mr Irbad Ibrahim, a security expert has fiercely urged the National Security Council and the Ghana Police Service to shut down all social media platforms on voting day on December 7th.
This, he stressed was to prevent the temptation of unscrupulous people forging and falsifying figures before polls ended.
According to him, the President got it wrong in positing the arena is left untouched on election-day, arguing the threats these platforms presented on election-day were real and cannot be glossed over.
Speaking at the launch of the maiden Media Festival and Awards Night by the Press Foundation (TPF), a media-focused non-governmental organization in Kumasi, Mr Ibrahim insisted a total shut down of the social media would spare the country having to struggle to repair the damage a false report or false results may had been circulated in the public space.
CAUTION:
The security expert commended the conventional media platforms for the work it had done so far in preventing the perpetration of hate and divisive speech on the airspace.
However, he stressed the need for the media to disallow the use of their platforms for the peddling of false claims and rumor mongering.
According to him, one false claim which is continually propagated by a political actor or actors had the potential of shaping the mindset of the public either against one party or the electoral institution.
Mr Ibrahim urged civil society organizations, the clergy and stakeholders in the country’s elections to intensify the education of the public on the need to keep peace before, during and after the elections.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Addressing participants earlier on, Mr Listowell Yesu Bukarson, Executive Director of TPF urged the media to vigorously play their roles as watchdogs of the country’s democracy.
According to him, media practice could only flourish when there was absolute peace in the country where the rights of every citizen is respected and jealously guarded.
He disclosed the Media Festival was designed to consciously create awareness on the need for citizens to work to keep the peace the country was currently enjoying.
With a float on the morning of 22nd October, Mr Bukarson announced 3000 people drawn from civil society groups, senior high schools and media organizations are expected to walk to drum home the point for peace ahead of the presidential and parliamentary polls on December 7th.
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR:
Speaking exclusively to the Ghanaian Observer Newspaper, Mr Frank Aboagye Jackson, Communications Director for TPF revealed an awards night will climax the month long celebrations.
He indicated high profile personalities as well as distinguished media personalities were to be publicly recognized for their various roles in ensuring peace in the country as well as the support they variously offered the media in its work.
On the bill to be acknowledged are Mr John Agyekum Kufuor, former President and Mr Eric Opoku, current Regional Minister for Brong-Ahafo.
