Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam George, says Ghana is poised for its most ambitious legal reform in decades, with 15 new bills underway to modernise outdated technology laws and define media boundaries in reporting national tragedies.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Tuesday, August 12, the minister described the comprehensive reforms as “long overdue”. Sam George said the legislative overhaul would be rooted in existing codes that have guided the media for years, but with updates to reflect current realities.
“The ministry is currently working on 15 new pieces of legislation. As a minister, one of the legacies I will leave is future-proofing the ministry,” he stated.
The announcement follows heightened public debate over the conduct of sections of the Ghanaian media, particularly after reports surrounding the August 6 helicopter crash that claimed eight lives.
Obsolete Framework
Sam George, who assumed office in February, described Ghana’s technology-related laws as “archaic,” noting that some had been in place for over two decades.
“When I took over in February, I realized that most of the legislation in the technology sector was 18 years old, some as old as 23 years. They are no longer fit for purpose. The current legislative framework for Ghana’s technology sector belongs more in the Ghanaian museum than in the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations,” he remarked.
The minister stressed that the reforms would not serve as a tool for censorship, but rather a framework to uphold ethical standards in media operations.
“We are not trying to censor the media’s ability to publish, but we will set parameters that must not be crossed. We will draw heavily from the GJA’s own code of ethics, especially the provisions on respect for grieving families and protecting the privacy of those in mourning,” he explained.
He added that these ethical provisions, along with relevant constitutional clauses, would be incorporated directly into the new laws. “We will literally lift these provisions, in the Constitution’s own words, into the legislation. This is what we intend to do when it comes to guiding broadcasting,” Sam George affirmed.
