KOFI ANOKYE OWUSU-DARKO (BLOG 1)

  INTRODUCTION As Ghana moves to update its digital governance through the Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, it is crucial to ask whether the proposed reforms solve a real gap — or simply create legal clutter. While the bill aims to strengthen cybersecurity regulation, it does so by expanding the powers of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) in ways that risk undermining the coherence of our criminal justice system. The proposed amendments would give the CSA powers to investigate, arrest, and even prosecute cybercrime — roles traditionally handled by the Ghana Police Service and the Office of the Attorney-General. These new mandates not only replicate existing functions but blur institutional boundaries that exist for good reason:  accountability, oversight, and separation of powers. More fundamentally, the bill reflects a troubling trend: the assumption that every digitally mediated harm must be treated as a new, standalone offence. This is legally unn...

INTRODUCTION In the digital age, where information travels faster than it can be verified, the pursuit of truth has become both more urgent and more vulnerable. In Ghana, increasing concerns over digital falsehoods have sparked calls for new “cybersecurity” laws to address online deception. However, such reactions often overlook a foundational principle of sound lawmaking: good law should remain technology-neutral. As society grapples with the growing influence of online content, it is essential to distinguish between two commonly conflated terms— misinformation and disinformation —since legal responses must be guided by intent and harm, not the medium of communication. While the digital space may amplify the speed or reach of harm, it does not alter the legal character of the act. In this context, misinformation refers to false or misleading information shared without the intent to deceive. It typically arises from error, haste, or misunderstanding—such as a journalist misquoting a ...