Keeping journalists safe is still the biggest challenge facing the new authorities. In November alone, two attacks were documented: police officers, a bailiff, and an auctioneerinvaded the offices of theIgnite Media Group (IMG) during a broadcast, and aChannel One TV journalist wasinterrupted and verbally assaulted by a parliamentarian while he was broadcasting live.
Mob raids on media outletsare not isolated events: in 2023, the offices of the private broadcaster United TV werestormed by about 20 ruling party supporters during a broadcast, and a presenter fromDagbon FM wasattacked by two assailants in his studio on World Press Freedom Day.
Environmental journalists are particularly targeted: on 20 October, three journalists from the media groupMultimedia Group Limited wereviolently assaulted by about 10 men while they were reporting on a mining site in the south of the country. Another example was in January 2022, when about 12 menstormed the offices of the community radio stationRadio Ada and attacked the presenter of a programme covering the state of the salt mining industry.
Five recommendations for the new president
RSF has issued five recommendations for Ghana’s new president, John Dramani Mahama, to protect journalists and the right to information:
Create a safer and more protective environment for journalists – particularly those covering environmental issues – by ending intimidation and attacks on journalists while they’re working.
Promote media independence by limiting the possibility for politicians to be majority shareholders or owners of a media outlet: a third of the country’s media outlets are owned by politicians or by people with ties to the leading political parties, and the content they produce is largely partisan.
Remove fees for access to information requests: The 2019 Right to Information Act allows for a fee to be charged if information is requested in a language other than English. Fees have been as high as $1,000, even if the information is already in English. This law prevents journalists from accessing the information they are seeking.
Redistribute state advertising transparently and fairly to improve journalists’ salaries. Currently, most private media are facing financial difficulties, while state-owned media are awarded government advertising contracts.
End impunity for crimes against journalists by systematically opening investigations to prosecute the perpetrators, such as the case of investigative journalistAhmed Hussein-Suale, who was shot dead in the street. Almost six years later, the investigation is still stalled, and must move urgently forward to ensure justice is done.