The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, has expressed strong concerns that certain provisions in the Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, could undermine press freedom and free expression if enacted in its current form.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, November 3, 2025, to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Mr. Dwumfuor stressed that while the GJA supports efforts to strengthen Ghana’s cybersecurity framework, the amendments must strike a careful balance between national security and the constitutional rights of journalists and citizens.
“We call for broad engagement, public consultation, and education to fine-tune the bill to ensure that every sector directly impacted understands and makes the needed input in the public interest,” he said, urging lawmakers not to fast-track the amendment process without thorough stakeholder consultation.
“If what the amendment seeks to cure will worsen the cyber ecosystem, then we must tread cautiously,” he added.
Mr. Dwumfuor underscored the crucial role of the media in Ghana’s democracy, warning that any attempt to restrict press freedom under the guise of cybersecurity reform could erode transparency and accountability.
“The GJA and the media will always seek to protect these guaranteed rights and ensure that they are not taken from us,” he reaffirmed.
He further called on Parliament to involve journalists, digital rights advocates, civil society organisations, and technology experts in reviewing the bill to ensure that the final law promotes responsible online conduct without infringing on fundamental freedoms.
The Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to address emerging digital threats, enhance regulatory oversight, and align Ghana’s cybersecurity policies with international standards. However, media stakeholders, the Minority in Parliament, and civil society groups have raised concerns that the proposed changes could be misused to target journalists and suppress dissenting voices.