<<Print>>

There appears to be a general agreement on how to deal with social media practitioners who are peddling falsehood and are engaged in mischievous enterprises aimed at scoring cheap political goals. Leaders of all political persuasions are insisting that the national security apparatus should find those spreading false news on social media and ensure that they are adequately punished. The call for investigation and punishment of the fraudsters has intensified following the publication of a false statement from the Flagstaff house announcing a cabinet reshuffle. Mr. Mike Ocquaye Jnr. A member of the Communications Tema of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is one of the latest voices calling or action to end the publication of injurious falsehood. He told Radio Gold�s morning show that the NPP does not and will not condone the publication of falsehood either in the regular or social media. He said NPPs communicators are enjoined to cross check all information they pick up before posting them on social media network. Mr. Ocquaye supported calls for the investigation of all cases of the publication of deliberate falsehood by social media practitioners and their punishment. Last year, there were several incidents of the publication of deliberate falsehood on the social media. In one instance, President John Dramani Mahama was photo shopped and made to appear that he was engaged in an decent act with a woman. The President was also reported by some social media practitioners to have had heated and insulting verbal exchanges with General Olusejo Obasanjo, the former President of Nigeria. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Presidential candidate of the NPP has also had his fair share of falsehood published about him. He was alleged to have resigned as Presdiential candidate of the party in a psot on social media. Kwabena Agyapong, the General Secretary of the party was also reported to have resigned in a false publication. Even non-political actors have been vilified by such publications which are sometimes reproduced in the regular media.