Ghana's Press Freedom Decline: Report Cites Political Interference and Safety Issues

The recently released World Press Freedom Index 2024 by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) sheds light on the state of press freedom in Ghana, revealing a mix of vibrant media landscape and concerning political influence, alongside safety issues faced by journalists.

According to the report, Ghana boasts a diverse media environment with over 100 outlets, owing to a legal framework that guarantees press freedom. However, this very freedom has led to the proliferation of partisan media outlets owned by politicians, injecting bias into content and exacerbating political polarization.

Despite the plurality in private media, concerns arise regarding government influence over the National Media Commission, the regulatory body responsible for overseeing the media sector. The report also highlights instances of political interference, such as the 2023 incident where the ruling party pressured a private channel to feature its members in broadcasts.

While the Right to Information Act of 2019 empowers journalists, challenges persist, including fees for requesting information in non-English languages and economic constraints within the media industry, leading to closures of some outlets. State-owned media's reliance on government advertising raises questions about editorial independence.

Moreover, the report underscores safety concerns for journalists, citing incidents like the intrusion of ruling party supporters into a TV studio and attacks on journalists during live reports. Politicians have reportedly issued death threats against investigative journalists, with many cases of police violence against journalists left unaddressed. The investigation into the murder of investigative reporter Ahmed Hussein-Suale remains stagnant, raising questions about accountability.

In light of these findings, the report calls for concerted efforts to safeguard press freedom, address political interference, and ensure the safety of journalists in Ghana.

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