Private legal practitioner Samson Lardy Anyenini has identified social media as the main platform for the spread of insults in Ghana’s public discourse, saying that many online commentators operate without the editorial supervision and professional accountability that guide traditional media organisations.
He said the growing influence of bloggers and other social media users had made it easier for people to publish abusive comments without considering the consequences for their targets or the legal risks associated with their statements.
Speaking during Joy Prime’s dialogue on the topic ‘The Politics of Insults: Where Do We Draw the Line?’, Mr Anyenini said insults were not new to Ghanaian politics, but the rise of social media had changed how they were spread and amplified.
“The merchants of insults, we know them. They are on social media. They are not on traditional media,” he said.
He acknowledged that traditional media organisations had also faced criticism for allowing politicians to trade insults during interviews and discussions. However, he said that social media presented a different challenge because many of its users published content without the oversight of editors or producers.
Mr Anyenini said the lack of editorial control over many online platforms was a major factor contributing to the spread of insults.
He said that established media organisations had professional standards and internal procedures that could prevent abusive or potentially defamatory material from being broadcast.
“If you sat on such an important platform like Multimedia Group and you did a quarter of the things that you hear broadcast on social media, you lose your job,” he said.
He added that many independent bloggers and content creators worked alone and were not accountable to an employer or editorial team.
“But he’s alone, she’s alone, nobody is supervising them. They don’t owe nobody, so to speak,” he said.
According to him, some social media users appear willing to insult people even when the individuals they target have made harmless comments or done nothing to provoke them.
Mr Anyenini said he had come across comments on platforms such as Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, in which users responded to ordinary posts with vulgar language and personal attacks.
“If you don’t have any comment to contribute to that comment, it’s not by force that you should go there and make a comment. But somebody will show up, and all they have to say is to insult you,” he said.
He questioned the motivation behind such behaviour, noting that disagreements should not become an excuse for personal abuse.
The lawyer said that people should take responsibility for their conduct online, regardless of their personal circumstances.
Although he singled out social media as the main source of the insults under discussion, Mr Anyenini said traditional media practitioners also had a duty to prevent political discussions from descending into abuse.
Responding to concerns about the role of programme hosts when politicians insult each other on air, he said presenters must be prepared to intervene rather than allow the exchanges to continue unchecked.
He explained that broadcasters had a responsibility to protect their audiences from abusive discussions and ensure that political debates remained focused on issues rather than personal attacks.
Mr Anyenini said his own approach to hosting Newsfile was guided by an awareness of the wide range of people who watched the programme, including political leaders, business executives, religious leaders and members of the public in Ghana and abroad.
“When I sit as a host, I think about my audience,” he said.
He explained that he was conscious of the fact that his programme was watched by people whose opinions and expectations mattered, and that some viewers contacted him directly about issues raised during broadcasts.
He also said his responsibilities extended beyond his work as a broadcaster because he practised law and represented clients, including businesses and well-known brands.
“Do they want to see their lawyer involved in such an insult fest? No, they don’t. So, I have an obligation, I have a responsibility,” he said.
Mr Anyenini maintained that media practitioners must understand that their public conduct reflects their personal and professional values.
The lawyer also said that the constitutional right to freedom of expression should not be treated as permission to abuse others.
He acknowledged that freedom of expression was a fundamental right under Ghana’s Constitution but said it came with responsibilities towards other people.
“In as much as it says in the Bill of Rights in Chapter 5 that I have the rights and the right of expressing, freedom of expressing, I know that there are limits to the freedom of expressing,” he said.
He added that people should consider the impact of their words before publishing them, particularly when their comments involved personal attacks or allegations that could damage someone’s reputation.
Mr Anyenini further criticised some bloggers for publishing allegations without contacting the people concerned to obtain their side of the story.
“These blogging people, they are listening to one side of the story. They’re not even contacting the other person to hear from them.
He said the absence of proper editorial checks often meant that claims could be circulated widely before the people targeted had an opportunity to respond.
He contrasted this with the practices of established media organisations, where editors can reject stories that do not meet professional or legal standards.
He said the responsibility to verify information should apply to everyone who publishes content, whether or not they have received formal journalism training.
The lawyer called for more training and public education for bloggers and content creators to help them understand their responsibilities and the consequences of publishing unverified claims.
“So, I say they need a lot of training, a lot of sensitisation so they can do things and do them right,” he said.