The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has raised questions over the arrest of a blogger for the alleged publication of false information, following a complaint.

According to him, on a daily basis, people published false information about others, and wondered if police will now be arresting all such persons, too.

“Why will the Ghana Police be arresting and detaining people for publication of “false news” about private individuals or even public officials? Individuals cannot or should no longer sue for defamation because the police will act on their behalf? The police will now be arresting, detaining and taking people to court for defamation on behalf of individuals?” Braimah quizzed.

“Even in the days of criminal libel, this will not be acceptable. On daily basis, we have people publishing false information about others. Will the police now be arresting all such persons? These acts must stop,” he asserted on Facebook.

Braimah's comments follow the Ghana Police Service, with support from the National Signals Bureau (NSB), arresting a blogger called Samuel Amadotor for alleged malicious publication of false information on Thursday, November 20.

According to police, this was after a complaint against him by Mr Okatakye Boakye Danquah Ababio I.

Police said in a statement that upon interrogation, the suspect admitted to the offence and mentioned one Chairman Michael Yeboah as the one who contracted him to make the false publication.

Amadotor pleaded not guilty in court, however, and has been granted a GHS50,000 bail with two surities.