We Want Regulation, Not Intimidation – New Media Association

 

The General Secretary of the New Media Association of Ghana, Jibriel Suliah Jagbesie, has stated that while content creators welcome regulation, they are concerned about certain aspects of the proposed Misinformation and Disinformation Bill currently under consideration by the government.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Jagbesie emphasized that digital creators are not opposed to oversight but expect transparency and collaboration in the creation of laws that directly impact their work.

“We are happy that regulation is coming. We don’t have a problem with that,” he said. “We understand the importance of standards and accountability in our industry. However, what worries us is the policing aspect of the bill and how accountability will be enforced.”

Jagbesie argued that any enforcement mechanism must be guided by clear and consistent rules rather than arbitrary decisions.

“If you accuse me of wrongdoing and decide to seize my mobile phone, there must be clear guidelines outlining what constitutes that wrongdoing,” he explained. “The new draft we’ve seen so far is vague, and many of our members have raised concerns about it.”

He stressed the importance of including digital creatives in the drafting process to ensure the law is fair, balanced, and does not stifle innovation or penalize genuine mistakes.

“We should be involved in this process,” he said. “Even traditional media sometimes make mistakes. If that happens, does it mean someone should be imprisoned for five years?”

While commending the government for initiatives that have supported content creators, Jagbesie noted that the bill’s development has lacked meaningful engagement with key industry stakeholders.

“The Minister, Sam Nartey George, introduced us to TikTok as a way to monetize our platforms and earn income, and we appreciate that effort. However, on this particular bill, we haven’t been consulted,” he added.

The New Media Association is therefore calling for collaboration rather than intimidation, urging the government to work with digital creators to design clear, fair, and practical regulations that promote accountability without undermining creative freedom.

Source: MyNewsGh.com