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PRESS RELEASE
Let My Vote Count
Sunday, August 7, 2016
BLOCKING SOCIAL
MEDIA ON ELECTIONS DAY IS UNDEMOCRATIC, DICTATORIAL AND
BACKWARD, MUST BE RESISTED FIERCELY.
The Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) is alarmed at
the intelligence we have picked on an elaborate plan to
block social media, jam frequencies of radio stations
and interrupt mobile networks on elections day.
It is no mere coincidence, however, that the Inspector
General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kudalor, has threatened to
shut down social media on the eve of, and on Election
Day. We therefore call on all Ghanaians to protest any
such move aimed at repressing freedom of expression and
stifling the free flow of vital information during the
election period.
Election practices in Ghana have
evolved progressively from the use of opaque ballot
boxes, to transparent ballot boxes, biometric
verification and now, the possibility of electronic
transmission of results. The role of social media in
strengthening democracies and more specifically, in the
election process, has increased significantly over the
years. In fact, in 2012, the Electoral Commission
declared the election results on its Facebook page hours
before Dr. Afari Gyan addressed the nation.
Thus,
social media, which allows the rapid transmission of
information electronically, will undoubtedly play a
crucial role in the December 7, 2016 elections.
It is therefore bizarre that the IGP would even
contemplate blocking social media sites not only on
Election Day, but also on the day before elections.
Indeed, social media has become so fundamental that very
recently, a coup attempt in Turkey was averted when the
President addressed the nation through social media.
Such, is the compelling impact of social media. We
therefore consider this degenerating and backward to the
great strides Ghana has made in the process of
democratization and the entrenchment of civil liberties,
particularly freedom of speech that the IGP, Mr. Kudalor
has on two separate occasions threatened to block social
media. On 26th May, 2016, he stated that if it becomes
critical, he would block social media sites on the eve
of, and on, Election Day.
Following this declaration,
several individuals and local and international
organizations vehemently opposed this threat to block
social media. Yet, on 19th July, 2016 during an
interaction with the Eastern Regional Police command,
and in an apparent disregard for the concerns raised
against the threat to block social media, the IGP
reiterated his decision to block social media as a
security measure to curb the spread of false
information.
The threat to block social media is
real and credible. Since access to social media is
routed through local internet-based communication
providers whose activities are regulated and licensed by
a government entity, the National Communications
Authority (NCA), it is possible to block social media
sites. However, this would have dangerous ramifications
for our budding democracy and must therefore be resisted
by all well-meaning Ghanaians.
This interference has
occurred in the recent past when media houses have
reported sensitive issues. Simply stated, total coverage
and operations of media houses are within the control of
the state through the NCA. We have credible intelligence
that there were elaborate plans to take advantage of the
November 7, 2016 election date to focus the world's
attention on the USA elections and to divert attention
from our own elections. Thankfully, parliament has voted
to keep the Election Day as December 7, 2016.
Nonetheless, the system is adamant, and has put in place
a well-orchestrated plan for a large-scale shutdown of
communication networks during the elections. This can
only be part of a desperate attempt to stay in power by
all means possible.
LMVCA condemns the abuse of
both social and traditional media to spread lies and to
incite fear and violence. This notwithstanding, an
outright ban of social media is not the panacea to false
reportage. Indeed, a ban of social media is not only
backward, but also fundamentally violates the flow of
information as a basic human right, and can only amount
to state institutions protecting the political interests
of a particular regime.
In countries such as
Uganda, the ban of social media on Election Day has been
counter productive. Instead of quelling unrest, the ban
rather heightened tension and sustained suspicions of
vote rigging and election irregularities. The Deputy
Regional Director of Amnesty International, Sarah
Jackson, referred to the blocking of social media sites
in Uganda on Election Day as "a blatant violation of
Ugandans' fundamental rights to freedom of expression
and to seek”. She added: "Without clearly defined
security concerns, this closure is nothing but an
exercise in censorship as Ugandans elect their leaders."
Similarly, the contemplation of the IGP to block social
media, and the possibility of interference with the
transmission of specific media houses, is a deliberate
and strategic step to stifle the free flow of important
information and to repress freedom of speech on Election
Day. This would be fiercely resisted by democracy loving
Ghanaians through a legitimate nation-wide sustained
demonstration.
It is to prevent any such
censorship on, or stifling of, the free flow of
information at any time during the election period, but
especially immediately before, during, and after
election that the LMVCA condemns any attempt of the IGP,
Mr. Kudalor, or any other individual or institution to
shut down social media or interfere with the
transmission of any media house on, before or after
Election Day.
We therefore call on the IGP to rescind
his decision to consider blocking social media during
the elections
We also call on the President to,
as a matter of urgency, make a categorical statement
clearly stating that the undemocratic and diabolic act
of stifling the flow of information by blocking social
media and jamming media houses would not be executed.
Let my vote count, do not destroy our democracy
Thank you.
David Asante
Convener – 0268 220220
Ibrahim Adjei
Spokesperson – 0243 338544
John H. Acquaah
Dir. Operations – 0268 110110
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