The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has raised concerns over certain provisions in the Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which can grant excessive powers to authorities to secretly monitor journalists and forcibly seize their communication devices.
It cautioned that the draft law contained vaguely worded offences, expanded investigatory and seizure powers for the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), and prosecutorial tools that could be misused against media practitioners.
It urged the Ministry of Communications and the Cyber Security Authority to revise the bill, include mandatory judicial oversight and clear protections for journalists and embark on broad public consultations before any amendment is finalised.
“The draft contains vaguely worded offences, expanded state powers and broad enforcement tools that, without robust safeguards for us, risk being used to undermine journalism, criminalise legitimate online reporting, enable surveillance of journalists and sources and undermine press freedom,” the President of GJA, Albert Dwumfour, said at a news conference organised in Accra on November 3.
The news conference sought to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
It also used the opportunity to address other key matters of national interest, including updates on the Ahmed Suale case; the proposed Misinformation, Disinformation, Hate Speech and Publication of Offensive Materials (MDHI) Bill 2025; and the 29th GJA Media Awards.
Enforcement powers
The president explained that while the bill aims to enhance the fight against cybercrime, its vaguely defined offences and broad enforcement powers “have the potential to criminalise legitimate online reporting and expose journalists and their sources to surveillance.”
Mr Dwumfour stressed that after a careful examination, “the association is convinced that the current form of the bill poses a real threat to journalism, freedom of expression and media independence and must therefore be subjected to broader consultation and judicial safeguards.”
He warned that the vague and overly broad definitions of cyber offences in the bill could create a chilling effect on press freedom.
“Experience from other countries shows that such ambiguous provisions are often weaponised to silence critical reporting and suppress dissenting voices,” he said.
He said the bill’s expanded investigatory powers could allow authorities to access journalists’ private communications and expose confidential sources without judicial oversight, posing a grave risk to media independence and whistleblower protection.
Interference
Mr Dwumfour stated that granting prosecutorial powers to the Cyber Security Authority under the bill could lead to excessive centralisation and political interference.
He maintained that giving a technical agency such sweeping authority without strong institutional oversight might result in the selective targeting of critical media outlets.
“When enforcement powers are concentrated in one agency, the risk of abuse and intimidation of journalists becomes real, as seen in other jurisdictions,” Mr Dwumfour stated.
He warned that the bill’s takedown and liability clauses could also encourage private censorship, as online platforms and publishers might resort to removing legitimate content to avoid legal consequences.
Criminalising speech
The president stated that criminalising certain forms of online speech under the bill might endanger legitimate journalism and public-interest reporting.
“Without clear legal protections, journalists could be arrested or prosecuted simply for doing their work, as has happened in countries such as Nigeria and Uganda,” he said.
Mr Dwumfour called for extensive national dialogue, education, and stakeholder consultation to refine the bill to ensure that all affected sectors contribute meaningfully to shaping a law that truly serves the public interest.
“The GJA and, for that matter, the media, will always seek to protect the constitutionally guaranteed rights that are not taken away from us.
We look forward to critical engagement on this bill,” he added.
