The KeepItOn, a coalition of over 300 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) across the world, has cautioned the government of Ghana against shutting down access to the internet as the country nears the 2024 general elections.
Reading the coalition's open letter to President and other stakeholders in the election, at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, the Campaign Manager of KeepItOn at Access Now, Felicia Anthonia, indicated that there would be no justification for shutting down the internet.
She said that the coalition has noticed a worrying trend of the internet being shut down in some African countries prior to elections, including Senegal and Mauritania, and prays that the government of Ghana will not follow suit.
The coalition, therefore, called on President to openly assure the people of Ghana that access to the internet in the country will not be interfered with before and during the 2024 polls. "The undersigned members of the KeepItOn coalition urge the government of Ghana, as well as other relevant actors, to publicly assure the people of Ghana that the Internet, including social media and other communication platforms, will remain open, accessible, inclusive and secure before, during and after the elections. "We call upon the relevant institutions and authorities to refrain from ordering any disruption of telecommunication services, social media platforms or other digital communication platforms throughout the elections.