IMANI, Minority Oppose To Cybersecurity Amendment Bill

IMANI Africa and the Minority leadership in Parliament have both expressed dissatisfaction at government’s Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, describing it as dangerous and a potential tool for silencing dissent.

On the side of IMANI Africa, its Vice President for Innovation and Strategy, Selorm Branttie said some of the stipulations in the draft bill, if enacted, could hand excessive control over online communications to the state.

“The core of it is that it is a dangerous thing to have laws like this, or some of the stipulations in laws like this dictating what should be the government’s response, or the response to some of these things that happen digitally.

“In the wrong hands, this could be used to abuse the personal rights of many individuals, and could be used to target people perceived as political opponents or people perceived as not liked by anybody who is in authority,” he made it known in an interview on Joy FM.

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi speaking on behalf of the Minority caucus said his side are united in its opposition to the bill and will use every legal and parliamentary avenue to prevent its enactment in its current form.

“As a member of the Minority engaging the sentiments within our caucus, I am clear that if this finds its way onto the floor, there will be fierce resistance. I am very sure that the Minority will employ every legal avenue available to ensure that these draft provisions do not become part of the laws of the Republic of Ghana,” he stressed.

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah cautioned that the proposed law poses grave dangers to free expression and civic activism.

“It is dangerous. Today, you may think it doesn’t affect you. Tomorrow, when they are using this law to put you in jail for up to 10 years because you wrote something, then you’ll realise that this advocacy that we are doing is in your interest,” the former Information Minister warned.

According to sources, the bill is currently before Parliament’s Communications Committee for consideration, with public consultations expected to continue in the coming weeks.

The Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to update the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), to address emerging online threats, enhance Ghana’s digital security infrastructure, and expand enforcement powers for state agencies.

The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations which is sponsoring the legislation, maintains that the amendments are intended to safeguard Ghana’s cyberspace and protect citizens from online abuse and cybercrime, not to suppress free speech.