Justice Dennis Adjei calls for stronger laws against social media impersonation and misinformation

Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, who has been nominated for appointment to the Supreme Court bench, has proposed that misinformation and the creation of fake accounts on social media should be treated with seriousness, arguing that existing laws should apply equally in both digital and physical spaces.

He made the remark on Monday [June 16, 2025], during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee.

Responding to a question about the increasing spread of fake news, disinformation and impersonation online, Justice Sir Dennis Adjei said such acts must be treated as criminal if they already constitute offences under Ghanaian law.

“If an act is an offence in Ghana physically, it should also be an offence on social media,” he said. “Ghana’s Communications Act already prohibits acts such as exposing private matters or making statements that threaten national security, whether done online or in person.”

He rejected suggestions that such laws could threaten freedom of expression, insisting that consistency in the application of the law was necessary.

“It would be wrong to make something an offence online if it is not already an offence elsewhere. But if the conduct is already punishable under existing law, doing it through a digital platform should not shield anyone from responsibility,” he said.

Mr Adjei is one of seven nominees under consideration for appointment to the Supreme Court bench.

He currently serves as Director of the Judicial Training Institute and has been involved in judicial education and legal reform.

His comment come amid renewed debate over the regulation of digital platforms in Ghana, especially during election periods and other matters of public interest, when the spread of false information tends to increase.