Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Sam George, has issued a stern warning to social media giant TikTok, calling for urgent reforms to the platform’s content policies and its treatment of Ghanaian creators.
Speaking at a press briefing to outline second-quarter achievements within his ministry, the outspoken Minister didn’t mince words. He condemned the increasing amount of sexually explicit and culturally offensive material circulating on TikTok in Ghana, describing it as a direct assault on the nation’s values.
He indicated that a team will launch surveillance on TikTok and order the deletion of explicit content and accounts of rogue users.
“Life, sex, and explicit material on TikTok is completely unacceptable and against our culture and our norms,” Sam George declared. “The platform must take responsibility for the kind of content it allows to thrive.”
His concerns mirror those of many Ghanaian parents, educators, and civil society groups who have raised red flags about the influence of social media on young people. With TikTok’s algorithm favouring shock value and virality, content that goes against traditional Ghanaian moral codes is becoming more visible and the Minister says that must change.
Beyond content moderation, Sam George also turned his focus to the livelihoods of local digital creators. He demanded that TikTok adopt a fair and transparent compensation model that rewards Ghanaian influencers and content producers proportionally to their contributions.
“I urged TikTok to ensure fair compensation for Ghana’s content creators,” he said. “And I proposed the establishment of a local moderation and content governance team to reflect Ghana’s values, protect human user rights, and support national regulatory expectations.”
In other words, the Minister wants more than just lip service. He’s calling for TikTok to physically establish a presence in Ghana through a local team that understands the country’s culture, laws, and expectations around digital ethics. This would mark a major shift in how content is reviewed and promoted in Ghana a move that could set a precedent across Africa.
Sam George acknowledged some recent steps taken by the platform, including the launch of a STEM-focused content feed designed to promote science, technology, engineering, and math among young users. While he welcomed this initiative, he cautioned that it cannot serve as a smokescreen for deeper systemic issues.
“I commend TikTok for launching the STEM feed, but they must go beyond that. This is not just about adding an educational tab it’s about creating a platform that is safe, inclusive, and respectful of Ghanaian values,” he said.
The Minister’s call comes at a critical time when Ghana’s digital economy is accelerating rapidly, with content creation emerging as a viable career path for many young Ghanaians.
However, many local influencers have long complained about limited monetisation opportunities compared to their counterparts in countries like the U.S. or the U.K., where payment structures are clearer and more lucrative.
For Sam George, the issue boils down to fairness and accountability. He believes that as TikTok benefits from Ghanaian creativity and traffic, it must reinvest in the very people who make the platform popular in the region.
“This is not about censorship,” the Minister clarified. “It’s about balance. It’s about making sure that our children are not being fed with damaging content, and that our creators are not being exploited. We are calling for responsible digital citizenship.”
