GJA Raises Alarm Over Cybersecurity Amendment Bill Threat to Press Freedom
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, has expressed deep concern about certain provisions in the Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025. He warned that if passed without extensive stakeholder engagement, the bill could endanger press freedom and free expression in Ghana.
At a press briefing on Monday, November 3, held to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Mr Dwumfuor noted that while the GJA supports efforts to strengthen Ghana’s cybersecurity systems, such progress must not come at the cost of fundamental constitutional rights.
“The GJA welcomes the government’s initiative to enhance cybersecurity,” he said. “However, we insist that it must be done through broad engagement, consultation, and education to ensure all affected sectors contribute meaningfully to the final draft.”
He cautioned that rushing the bill through Parliament without adequate input from the media, civil society, and other experts could create new challenges rather than solve existing ones.
“If what the amendment seeks to cure will end up worsening the cyber ecosystem, then we must tread cautiously,” Mr Dwumfuor remarked.
The GJA president emphasized that the media plays a central role in Ghana’s democracy, serving as a watchdog for transparency, accountability, and good governance. Any law that weakens the independence of the press, he warned, would harm the nation’s democratic progress.
“The GJA and the media fraternity will always defend these freedoms and ensure they are not taken away from us,” he affirmed regarding the Cybersecurity Bill.
Mr Dwumfuor called on Parliament to open the review process to journalists, digital rights advocates, civil society organisations, and technology experts. He stressed that the final version of the bill must strike a fair balance between protecting national security and upholding civil liberties.
The proposed Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to improve Ghana’s capacity to counter online threats, strengthen regulatory mechanisms, and align national laws with global best practices.
However, several media houses, opposition legislators, and civic groups have warned that some provisions could be exploited to suppress dissent and intimidate journalists critical of government actions.
As debate over the bill continues, the GJA maintains that genuine collaboration and transparency are essential to safeguard both national security and the democratic freedoms enshrined in Ghana’s Constitution.
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