Shutting down social media won't solve any problem - WANEP

The Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Chukuemeka Eze has called on the Ghana police service not to shut down the use of social media on election day.

According to him, the police would be better served focusing on monitoring social media platforms to identify persons who might compromise security efforts ahead of the elections.

The Inspector General of Police, John Kudalor revealed that the police service is seriously thinking about flagging down Ghana on social media.

According to him, it will help prevent the abuse of the platform by politicians and Ghanaians at large.

He opined that people use social media to create unwarranted tension during elections.

“Social media is used to churn out untruths and half-baked truths and finally lies...we as the Police will not sit down for this to happen. We shall recommend that the Social Media is banned for the seven or eight hours that the election will take place, after all, it is nothing but Ghana first, and I still stand by that,” the IGP said.

However, Chukuemeka Eze said “Shutting down social media cannot and will never solve any problem".

Chukuemeka Eze, who spoke to Accra-based Citi FM said, "I think the police should focus on how they can regulate the content on social media."

"Social media is an expression of people within a society. So it is simply a vehicle through which people express themselves. So in other words, if you shut down the social media, those expressions will still take place," he noted.