Justice Kweku T. Ackaah-Boafo is a Supreme Court nominee

Supreme Court nominee Justice Kweku T. Ackaah-Boafo has urged individuals to exercise greater responsibility in their use of social media.

Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament for his vetting on Friday, June 20, 2025, Justice Ackaah-Boafo expressed the view that individuals should not hide behind the right to free speech to commit offences or engage in cyber-bullying.

He emphasised that those who feel defamed by such actions on social media have the right to seek legal redress and hold the perpetrators accountable in court.

Justice Ackaah-Boafo further emphasised the need for clear guidelines to govern behavior on social media, arguing that pursuing defamation cases in court should not be misconstrued as an attempt to suppress free speech.

“In the case of British Steel Corporation versus Granada, Lord Denning said, if the press wants to deserve freedom, they must work for it because free speech is not taken. In Peckingham and North Carolina, Justice Kalia said action is on social media.

“It is like the old style writing in newspapers therefore, there must be some guidelines there. So, if you go on social media and you use that to abuse somebody and the person thinks that he's defamed, I think that going to the court will not be gagging anybody. People must be responsible on social media,” he said.

Justice Ackaah-Boafo is one of seven nominees to the Supreme Court, appointed by President John Dramani Mahama in accordance with Article 144(2) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

The other nominees are Justices Senyo Dzamefe, Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh, Philip Bright Mensah, Janapare Adzua Bartels-Kodwo, and Hafisata Amaleboba.

MAG/MA

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