Barker-Vormawor calls for uniform standards in Ghana — MyJoyOnline
In Ghana, lawyer and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor criticized what he sees as the inconsistent application of police powers under different governments. He said that actions considered wrong under the previous administration of the New Patriotic Party should not become acceptable after the National Democratic Congress came to power.
Barker-Vormawor said this on the Newsfile program while commenting on the case of a social media commentator known as Ghana Jollof, MyJoyOnline reports. Her detention and criminal prosecution sparked a discussion about the limits of police powers and freedom of expression on social media.
Criteria for criminal liability
The activist stressed that his criticism of the state's response does not mean he approves of the statements attributed to the commentator. According to him, some of this content is offensive, but offensiveness alone does not make a statement a crime.
Barker-Vormawor said law enforcement agencies must properly determine the threshold beyond which controversial posts may lead to criminal sanctions. At the same time, he acknowledged that some materials attributed to the commentator may have justified police interest in the case.
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Audio recording and wanted notice
As an example of such material, the lawyer cited an audio recording in which the commentator allegedly said that a coup was taking place at Jubilee House. In Barker-Vormawor's view, this statement may meet the criteria for applying the law on spreading false news that causes fear and panic.
At the same time, he distinguished this episode from a video in which the suspect, according to him, insulted people in power. Such statements may be unacceptable but, in his opinion, do not reach the necessary threshold for criminal prosecution.
The activist also questioned the appropriateness of declaring the woman wanted if investigators had already established that she was in the United Kingdom. He believes this creates an impression of unprofessional police work. Barker-Vormawor stressed that police may investigate alleged offenses on social media, but standards for exercising state power must remain the same regardless of the party in power.
