Bunkpurugu MP Abednego Lamangin Bandim has revealed that the draft of the Misinformation and Disinformation Bill was intentionally released to the public to encourage broad consultation and feedback before it reaches Parliament.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on November 3, Mr. Bandim, who chairs Parliament’s Information and Communication Committee, said the move by the Communication Minister was a deliberate step to foster transparency and public engagement.
“We are just starting the process, and somebody must drive through, which is the Communication Ministry,” he explained.
According to him, the Minister believes the best approach is to make the draft available early so that citizens, industry players, and stakeholders can share their views.
“The Minister thinks that the best thing to do is to put the bill in its current form and allow public engagement. That is why when people say they have not been consulted or comment on social media for a bill that is only beginning its consultation, the Minister has deliberately put this information out there to allow public discourse,” Mr. Bandim noted.
He encouraged Ghanaians to contribute to the discussion instead of assuming the bill had already been finalized.
“If you have concerns, you can send your concerns for consideration,” he added.
Mr. Bandim clarified that the legislative process is only at its early stages, stressing that it will take time before the bill becomes law.
“I am trying very hard not to discuss the content of the bill at this stage because this is just the beginning and the bill has a long way to go before it is passed into law,” he stated.
His comments came after some representatives of new media associations expressed dissatisfaction, claiming they had not been consulted and that parts of the draft appeared vague, posing possible risks to online content creators.
However, Mr. Bandim’s clarification suggests that the government’s decision to publish the draft was a strategic effort to promote inclusive dialogue, giving media professionals, digital creators, and the general public the opportunity to share input before any parliamentary deliberations.
