#KeepItOn: government of Ghana and internet service providers must ensure open and secure internet access throughout the 2024 elections

For the attention of His Excellency, Nana Akufo- Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana.

CC: Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister for Communications and Digitalization; Hon. Fatima Abubakar, Minister of Information; Hon. Henry Quartey, Minister of Interior; Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa, Chairperson, Electoral Commission of Ghana; Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana; Dr. Joe Anokye, Director General, National Communications Authority Ghana; Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, Director General, Cyber Security Authority; Mr. Kwabena Adu-Boahene, Director General (DG), National Signals Bureau (NSB); Mr. Stephen Blewett, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Ghana; Ms. Patricia Obo-Nai, CEO Telecel Ghana;  Mr. Leo Skarlatos, Chief Executive Officer of AT and all respective service providers of digital platforms and internet services.

Countries across Africa, and the world, must ensure access to open and secure internet during moments of national importance. As the people of Ghana head to the 2024 general elections, we urge the government of Ghana to #KeepItOn.

We, the undersigned organisations and members of the #KeepItOn coalition — a global network of over 334 organisations from 105 countries working to end internet shutdowns — appeal to you, President Nana Akufo-Addo, to publicly commit to ensuring that people in the Republic of Ghana have unfettered access to the internet, digital platforms, and all other communication channels throughout the upcoming general elections on December 7 and beyond. 

As the people of Ghana prepare to vote, we urge your government to adopt, implement, and enforce measures that safeguard human rights by enabling unrestricted access to information and avenues for expression, assembly, and association both offline and online. This is essential for ensuring an inclusive, free, and fair election process.

In a democratic society, the internet and social media platforms play a critical role in enhancing participatory governance, advancing inclusiveness and transparency, and enabling people to exercise their fundamental human rights — principles enshrined in Ghana’s Constitution. Digital platforms enable public discourse on electoral processes and political candidates, allowing voters to hold governments accountable. Internet access also facilitates the essential work of journalists, human rights defenders, and election observers who monitor, document, and report on elections.  An open and secure internet is critical for international and local organisations’ work to ensure the integrity of the upcoming elections.

Ghana must uphold its exemplary track record

Despite the alarming practice of internet disruptions by authorities in neighbouring countries, Ghana remains an example in the region that has not deliberately shut down access to digital services during important national events. In 2023 alone, Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition documented at least 17 shutdowns in nine countries across Africa — highlighting the deterioration of human rights in the region and across the globe. As a member of the Freedom Online Coalition — a network of 41 countries working to advance internet freedom globally — Ghana has a duty to ensure that its people have open and secure access to the internet and digital platforms throughout the upcoming general elections and beyond.  For a country that has conducted eight electoral circles since 1992 without any internet disruptions, it is critical that Ghana lives up to its reputation as a rights-respecting nation that acknowledges the indispensable role the internet plays in enhancing information flow and ensuring transparency. 

Moreover, we acknowledge Ghana’s endorsement of the Contract for the Web and past public commitments by the National Communications Authority (NCA) to ensure unfettered access to the internet and digital platforms throughout the 2020 election period in Ghana, and call for similar commitments to be made ahead of the elections to safeguard people’s rights. 

However, the  Electoral Commission’s 2023 discussion on the adoption of a national framework to regulate the use of social media to combat mis- and disinformation during elections could threaten the exercise of free speech in the country.  Moreover, heavy-handed measures like disrupting access to the internet or any digital platforms to curb misinformation have proven futile and are disproportionate measures that lead to violations of people’s fundamental rights.  

Internet shutdowns harm human rights and hinder information flows

Internet shutdowns are an ineffective measure to combat misinformation, as they limit the flow of crucial, timely, and verified information and suppress civic participation. Shutdowns also create information vacuums that can further fuel the spread of hateful and inciting speech and allow misinformation to thrive. 

Shutdowns during elections make it extremely difficult for journalists to do their jobs and verify news from their sources, leaving people inside and outside of impacted countries without access to trustworthy and credible information. Shutdowns also hinder the vital democratic processes such as election monitoring and observation of national, regional and international election observer groups, political parties, media outlets, and civil society. 

Shutdowns also disrupt people’s daily activities. They negatively impact people’s livelihoods and entire economies, costing countries, businesses, and public organisations that rely on the digital economy billions of dollars. 

 Internet shutdowns contravene national and international laws 

The Constitution of Ghana guarantees the right to freedom of expression and the right to access information. Ghana is also a signatory to regional and international frameworks, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, which protect and promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, assembly, and access to information — both offline and online. The Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa 2019 also calls on states not to “engage in or condone any disruption of access to the internet and other digital technologies for segments of the public or an entire population.” 

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has repeatedly underscored the importance of internet connectivity. In 2024, through its resolution 580 0f 2024, the ACHPR specifically called on state parties to ensure open and secure internet access before, during, and after elections. Moreover, the UN Secretary-General and other experts have affirmed that “blanket internet shutdowns and generic blocking and filtering of services are considered by United Nations human rights mechanisms to be in violation of international human rights law.”  

Telcos must respect human rights

Telecommunication companies also have a duty to uphold human rights and undertake proactive steps to mitigate rights-violating practices such as internet shutdowns. The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights provide guidelines on how companies can promote human rights in their unique position between authorities and the end user. The principles make specific recommendations including performing due diligence when entering new markets and implementing transparency measures around government directives. Alongside the government, we call on telecommunications companies and internet service providers (ISPs) operating in Ghana — including  MTN, Telecel, AT, and others — to refrain from enforcing any shutdown orders they may receive from the authorities and undertake urgent measures to provide the people in Ghana with open, and secure access to the internet and digital platforms before, during, and after the 2024 general elections.

Recommendations

The undersigned members of the  #KeepItOn coalition urge the Government of Republic of Ghana, as well as other relevant actors, to: 

• Publicly assure the people in Ghana that the internet, including social media and other digital communication platforms, will remain open, accessible, inclusive, and secure before, during, and after the elections.
• Call upon the relevant institutions and authorities to refrain from ordering any disruption of telecommunications services, social media platforms, or other digital communication platforms throughout the elections.
• Ensure that telecommunications companies and ISPs implement all necessary measures to provide high-quality, secure, unrestricted, and uninterrupted internet access throughout the election period and beyond, in line with their quality of service and license conditions.
• Ensure that telecommunications companies and ISPs inform people in Ghana of any potential technical disruptions during the elections, and take all reasonable steps to remedy any such disruptions likely to impact their service quality. 

Please let us know how the #KeepItOn coalition can support you in upholding an open, secure, inclusive, and accessible internet for all in Ghana. 

Yours sincerely,

Signatories: