Former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, has dismissed claims that the proposed Cyber Security Amendment Bill seeks to reintroduce the repealed criminal libel law.
Speaking in response to public concern over the controversial document on Citi FM’s The Big Issue on Saturday November 1, Mr. Fuseini explained that once a law is repealed, it cannot be revived unless its provisions are clearly included in a new law.
He added that he has not seen any indication in the current draft suggesting an attempt to bring back criminal libel.
“Once a law is repealed, it is repealed. If you want even a provision of the repealed law back, you have to incorporate it into the new law, and I don’t see any new provision in this draft that suggests to me there is an attempt to bring back criminal libel,” he stated.
His comments follow growing political debate over a draft bill said to aim at regulating online speech. Critics, including members of the Minority in Parliament, have warned that the proposal could criminalise free expression and allow government control over digital communication.
The Member of Parliament for Walewale, Dr. Tiah Abdul-Kabiru Mahama, recently described the document as a reflection of the government’s intention to control online activity, even though it has not yet been formally presented to Parliament. He noted that statements from the President and the Minister of Communication lend credibility to the circulating document.
Similarly, the MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has cautioned that the proposed Cyber Security Amendment Bill could threaten Ghana’s democracy. He argued that using criminal laws to regulate speech could be abused by future governments and urged that such measures be replaced with civil remedies.
Despite the concerns raised, Inusah Fuseini maintains that fears of reviving criminal libel are misplaced, emphasising that no such provision exists in the draft currently under discussion.
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