Ghanaian actor Kwaku Manu has urged President John Dramani Mahama to introduce legislation to curb the growing trend of online insults targeting high-profile individuals, including the President himself, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and prominent businessmen like Dr. Osei Kwame Despite and Ibrahim Mahama.
In a video shared on Instagram, Manu expressed concern over the culture of disrespect on social media, where some individuals verbally attack national and influential figures without regard.
He proposed a law imposing a one-year jail sentence for each insult directed at public figures.
“But for politics, everyone agrees with me that President Mahama is really working. The performance of the cedi against the dollar is a reflection of his good governance.
“However, I’m pleading with President Mahama to enact a law that anyone who sits on social media, talks authoritatively in a disrespectful manner against him, the President, and other influential figures, using unprintable words, should be dealt with legally.
“Most times, these recalcitrant are just ordinary people with no pedigree but will insult very influential people,e including the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu and very rich businessmen like Ibrahim Mahama, Kwame Despite, and Ofori Sarpong.
“I mean these individuals who have established businesses and provided employment for many will just be disrespected because someone has the means to own a camera and will come online and just insult them,” he said.
Kwake Manu noted that the uncouth behaviour shows the culprits lacked proper home training and need to be dealt with accordingly.
