The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has raised concerns over the increasingly abusive and hostile nature of Ghana’s public discourse.

Addressing Parliament, Speaker Bagbin said the country must take seriously the growing use of abusive, insulting, threatening and hate speech, particularly in public conversations.

“This matter concerns the increasingly intemperate character of our national discourse and particularly the growing incidence of abusive, insulting, threatening and hate speech in our public discourse.”

He noted that the rapid expansion of social media has created greater opportunities for citizens to participate in national conversations and contribute to democratic processes.

“The expansion of social media has given citizens opportunities to participate in national conversations… these are gains which must be protected.”

According to the Speaker, while freedom of expression is a fundamental part of Ghana’s democracy, its exercise must be accompanied by responsibility.

He stressed the need for citizens, political actors and public officials to be mindful of the language they use and the potential consequences of their statements.

Speaker Bagbin called for a national conversation that is broad, inclusive and measured, saying legitimate criticism and dissent should not be confused with threats, insults, incitement or abuse.

He also cautioned against allowing the current tone of public discourse to undermine the democratic gains Ghana has made over the years.

The Speaker’s comments come amid renewed discussions about the nature of political communication, hate speech and responsible use of social media in Ghana.

He urged stakeholders to create a public discourse that allows for disagreement and criticism while promoting respect, national cohesion and the country’s democratic values.