The Ghana Police Service has labelled the rising trend of using social media to target security personnel, spread misinformation, and glorify violent crime as significant threats to national security.
The law enforcement body at a press conference in Accra warned that the threatening behavior on digital platforms would no longer be viewed as as harmless “clout-chasing” or theatrics.
“We want to take this opportunity to send a word of caution to such persons to advise themselves and desist from such acts…if you engage in any conduct that borders on criminality, the Ghana Police Service will fish you out and pursue you,” the police warned.
The warning follows the recent arrests linked to inflammatory online content.
The Police highlighted a recent arrest in Jacobu in the Ashanti Region where the suspect was apprehended after a viral video surfaced featuring a masked individual threatening to kill police and military officers who interfered with armed robbery operations.
In a separate operation, authorities successfully tracked and dismantled a violent robbery network after gang members used social media to intimidate local communities and project an image of lawlessness.
The Service identified three specific areas of concern currently which it said undermines public safety.
The Police listed direct intimidation of security personnel to hinder law enforcement, creation of sensationalist content designed to cause unnecessary public alarm and the deliberate spread of false news and disinformation to destabilize social order.
To combat these threats, specialized cyber intelligence teams have been deployed to monitor online spaces around the clock.
The teams have been tasked with identifying, tracking, and providing evidence to arrest individuals engaged in criminal or dangerous digital activities.
While the Police Service reiterated its commitment to protecting the constitutional right to freedom of expression, it maintained that this right does not extend to incitement, impersonation, or threats.
The Police has also urged the the public to support these security efforts by volunteering credible information regarding suspicious or criminal online activities.
Authorities maintain that the full rigors of the law will be applied to anyone attempting to use digital tools to compromise the peace of the nation.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
