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Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam Nartey George, has revealed that he nearly ordered a nationwide internet shutdown to stop the circulation of graphic videos from the August 6 military helicopter crash.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr. George said the disturbing footage, particularly on WhatsApp, raised serious concerns about the mental health of victims’ families, especially since official communication to next of kin had not yet been completed.
“When the incident happened, I was distraught, but we still had a responsibility to the state… I was worried about the mental health of the kids and spouses of the victims, and such tragedy needs to be broken in a certain way,” he explained.
He noted that shutting down the internet would have prevented further spread of the content but would also have disrupted news access and caused wider negative consequences.
Instead, the Minister opted for a targeted response, contacting Meta the parent company of WhatsApp and engaging senior executives to address the issue. He also coordinated with the National Communications Authority and telecom operators MTN, Telecel, and AirtelTigo, who collaborated to send 30 million cautionary text messages within two hours at no cost to the state.
Mr. George commended the telecom companies for fully funding the nationwide messaging campaign, which urged the public to exercise restraint in sharing sensitive material.
