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GJA President Warns Cybersecurity Bill Could Undermine Press Freedom
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, has voiced serious concern over portions of the Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, cautioning that some provisions could pose a grave threat to press freedom and free expression if passed without broader consultation.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, November 3, to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Mr Dwumfuor said while the GJA supports efforts to enhance Ghana’s cybersecurity framework, the bill must not be allowed to erode constitutional rights under the pretext of national security.
“We call for broad engagement, public consultation, and education to fine-tune the bill to ensure that every sector directly impacted understands and makes the needed input in the public interest,” he stated.
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He warned that hasty passage of the amendment without sufficient stakeholder input could create more problems than it seeks to solve.
“If what the amendment seeks to cure will worsen the cyber ecosystem, then we must tread cautiously,” he added.
The GJA president stressed that the media remains a critical pillar of Ghana’s democracy, and any attempt to curtail its independence through legislation would undermine accountability, transparency, and the public’s right to know.
“The GJA and the media will always seek to protect these guaranteed rights and ensure that they are not taken from us,” Mr Dwumfuor affirmed.
He therefore urged Parliament to engage journalists, digital rights advocates, civil society organisations, and technology experts to ensure the bill reflects a fair balance between safeguarding national security and protecting civil liberties.
The Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aims to strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to online threats, improve regulatory oversight, and align Ghana’s laws with international best practices.
However, sections of the media, opposition lawmakers, and civil society groups have raised red flags over potential overreach, warning that the bill in its current form could be misused to stifle dissent and intimidate journalists critical of government policies.
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