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A team from TikTok Pays Courtesy Call on Minister for Communication
A team from TikTok led by Tokunbo Ibrahim, the Government Relations and Public Policy Lead for West Africa, today paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George to congratulate him on his appointment, discuss the Ministry’s key priorities as well as seek opportunities for collaboration.
During the meeting, Ms Ibrahim also provided key updates from TikTok, including the recently introduced STEM feed – a unique feed dedicated to educational and inspiring science, technology, mathematics videos.
Ms. Ibrahim also reaffirmed TikTok’s dedication to the safety of its community in Ghana, emphasising that harmful misinformation is not allowed on the platform, and committing to working with the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) on these efforts.
”Given your leadership in advancing digital inclusion, online safety, and youth empowerment, we are looking forward to seeing how the digital economy will continue to grow under your direction,” Ms. Ibrahim said.
Welcoming the team, the Minister highlighted the need to identify age restrictions to help protect children online (Child Online Protection).
He urged TikTok to ensure the sanctity of its platform by enforcing mechanisms that protect minors, uphold age-appropriate content standards, and discourage harmful content.
Nartey George emphasized the need for the platform to evolve beyond entertainment and serve as a productive tool for learning and skills development.
The Minister also mentioned the structure of algorithms for Ghana, enquiring how it works.
Samuel Nartey George expressed excitement about the STEM feed introduction.
“We will work with you to see how to drive content on the One Million Coders Program to help Ghanaians use the app to learn and also pick classes”, he said.
The Minister also mentioned the need for a boot camp training for bloggers to help maximize the economic potential of content creators.
He stressed the need to manage misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, adding, that TikTok must consider setting up a content consideration team committed to ensuring the sanctity of the people.
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Criminal and Seditious Libel Law was repealed in 2001 yet we still face harassment – NPP
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the government for what it calls a return to the “culture of silence” in Ghana, despite the repeal of the Criminal and Seditious Libel Law more than two decades ago.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the party said the arrest and detention of its Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye, for allegedly insulting the Inspector General of Police (IGP) was the latest sign of political intimidation.
According to the NPP, eight months into President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, state security had been “weaponised” not to fight illegal mining or protect citizens, but to intimidate and punish dissenting voices.
The party said insecurity in areas such as Bawku, Nkwanta and Gbeniyiri in the Savannah Region had claimed more than 32 lives and displaced over 50,000 people, yet the police and national security were more focused on arresting opposition supporters and social media users for their posts.
The NPP noted that Ghana abolished the Criminal and Seditious Libel Law in 2001 under President John Agyekum Kufuor to protect free speech and media freedoms.
It described the recent arrests of opposition members as an erosion of those democratic gains.
The party said it did not condone insults or vulgar language in public discourse but stressed that anyone who felt defamed should seek redress through civil defamation suits, not criminal prosecution.
It also accused the government of undermining the judiciary by “weaponising” it against political opponents, citing the removal of the Chief Justice.
“The growing climate of intimidation and criminalisation of speech is a serious assault on Ghana’s democracy,” the statement signed by NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong said.
The NPP called on all Ghanaians to resist what it described as a return to tyranny and pledged to roll out a series of actions to protect the country’s democratic gains.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
NIA opens Premium Centres to register children
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has started registering Ghanaian children aged between six and 14 years at all its Premium Centres across the country.
The Authority says the exercise is part of its duty to register every Ghanaian, both at home and abroad, so that all citizens can have a secure and verifiable national identity.
It explained in a statement issued today that the registration will help build a complete and inclusive National Identity Register (NIR) that captures every Ghanaian from childhood.
According to the NIA, the fee for first-time registration at Premium Centres is GHS 310, which is the approved charge for premium services.
The Authority said the requirements are the same as for applicants aged 15 years and above.
It affirmed that Parents or legal guardians were required to present either a valid Ghanaian passport of the child, the original copy of the child’s birth certificate, or be a Ghana Card holder who can vouch for the child.
The NIA also announced that from Monday, September 15, 2025, its online registration and booking system will be extended to the remaining 11 Premium Centres nationwide.
This it said will allow parents and guardians to schedule appointments more conveniently and avoid delays at the centres.
It further stated that information on the issuance of Ghana Cards for children aged six to 14 years who had already registered will be shared later.
In the coming weeks, the Authority plans to extend this registration service to all NIA District Offices to make it easier for more people to access the service.
By: Jacob Aggrey
