PRINPAG President David Tamakloe Advocates Balanced Media Regulation at Broadcasters Convention 2026

The President of the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), David Tamakloe, has called for a more focused regulatory framework for Ghana’s rapidly expanding online media industry.

Speaking as a panel member at the Broadcasters Convention 2026, Mr Tamakloe said the growing shift from traditional media to digital platforms had created regulatory challenges that required urgent attention.

He noted that while traditional media organisations operate within established regulatory frameworks, the online space remains comparatively less regulated, making it increasingly difficult for the public to distinguish professional journalism from other forms of digital content.

Our space is hardly regulated. We are supposed to publish news to the public, but we focus much on public interest without regulations at all,” he said.

According to Mr Tamakloe, the rapid growth of online platforms has enabled individuals to create and distribute information without necessarily following the professional standards and ethical principles associated with journalism.

He said the development had blurred the lines between traditional journalism, online news publishing and content created by individuals on social media.

Mr Tamakloe argued that the discussion should move beyond the question of whether Ghana needs more or less regulation and instead focus on the purpose and objectives of regulation.

I think there may not be an issue of over-regulation if we look at the core values of what is being regulated for,” he said.

He explained that if the media is considered a public-interest institution, regulatory measures should be designed to safeguard that interest while promoting transparency, accountability and ethical standards.

If we are considering transparency and accountability that are required in media practice, it limits us, and of course we are thinking about consumers and how to protect people’s rights and ethics,” he said.

He said those principles should inform discussions about the appropriate regulatory framework for both established media organisations and the growing number of digital content creators.

The PRINPAG President also expressed concern about the increasing spread of misinformation, insults and other potentially harmful material through digital platforms.

He attributed part of the challenge to the widespread availability of smartphones and social media, which have made it possible for almost anyone to create and distribute information to large audiences.

We have come to a stage where we are missing the traditional media practice. As journalists, now people take phones and spread misinformation and insults,” he said.

Mr Tamakloe stressed the importance of distinguishing professional journalism from general content creation, arguing that the two should not automatically be regarded as equivalent.

It might be made clear, and we are all shying away from mentioning that that’s not journalism. Journalism is far different from that,” he said.

His comments come amid broader discussions about how Ghana can respond to the rapid expansion of digital media while protecting freedom of expression, access to information and professional journalism.

The challenge, he said, is to develop a regulatory approach that promotes transparency, accountability and ethical conduct without unnecessarily restricting legitimate journalism, digital publishing or lawful content creation.