Ghana has been cautioned against plans to block social media during general elections in December this year.

Director of the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA), Prof. Adebayo Olukoshi, says curtailing social media use could create suspicion in the minds of the electorates and election observers.

“I think the question of social media is one that needs to be handled with care because it can be a force for good as it is potentially a force for bad," he said.

Adebayo Olukoshi spoke to Joy News at an evening encounter organised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing – Ghana on Saturday.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor has said the Police Service could block social media across the country on before and during the elections.

He is concerned that social media could be used as a tool for misinformation thus posing a danger to the nation’s security during the polls.

"At one stage I was even saying that if it becomes critical on the eve and the election day we shall block all social media as other countries have done. So we are thinking about it," Mr Kudalor said.

He reiterated the suggestion last week in Ho, in the Volta Region capital.

However, Adebayor Olukoshi said political parties can agree to source election results from only the Electoral Commission (EC) and not rely on unofficial social media sources.

“If it is an agreement amongst political parties that there is only one adjudicator for elections, namely the independent the EC, which should be announcing the results, then it should be understood that if that body has not made pronouncement whatever is announced through social media amounts to nothing more than speculation,” he said.

He said social media can serve as a “counter-balancing watchdog” during the elections and help strengthen the democratic process.

Meanwhile, the special representative of the United Nations secretary general for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWA), Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, has said the UN would not endorse any attempts to ban social media in Ghana during elections.