The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has strongly criticized the draft of the Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, describing it as “a terrible one” that threatens Ghana’s democratic values.
Speaking on Newsfile on Saturday morning, Braimah questioned why a democratic nation such as Ghana would propose a law that grants broad discretionary powers to government officials. “Why do we need legislation that basically allows a minister or authority to snoop, to intrude if they wish?” he asked.
Braimah warned that the bill, in its current form, poses a serious risk to citizens’ digital rights and freedoms. He urged lawmakers to carefully review its provisions, especially those that could empower state agencies to monitor or penalize online activity without judicial oversight.
According to him, such unchecked authority could easily be abused to suppress dissent, intimidate critics, and invade personal privacy under the guise of national security.
The proposed Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aims to enhance Ghana’s digital security framework and strengthen regulatory controls. However, several civil-society organizations and human-rights groups have raised alarms, arguing that its vague language and lack of accountability mechanisms could pave the way for governmental overreach.
As debate over the bill continues, digital rights advocates are calling for greater transparency and public consultation to ensure that Ghana’s cybersecurity laws protect both state security and individual freedoms.
