Ghana Makes Slow Declaration in World Press Freedom Index After 20
May 3, 20220
Ghanaian journalists
Ghana dropped 30 places in the 2022 World Press Freedom index.
This is the lowest fall in Ghana that has been on the rise for almost two decades.
The latest level, compiled by Reporters Without Borders, saw Ghana ranked 60th, down sharply from 30th place last year.
This has been the result of recent reports indicating an attempt to close down conflicting views in the country. The Akufo-Addo government is accused of leading a crackdown on media outlets and CSOs in the country.
The number of media arrests over the past few months is just one proof of that. All of these and other media-related violent attacks are believed to have led Ghana to 67.43, ranking 60th in the list of 180 countries.
A report released in commemoration of International Press Freedom Day added that although the country is considered a regional leader in democratic stability, journalists have faced increasing pressure over the years.
It said “… the government has shown a lack of tolerance for criticism. In addition, one-third of the media are politically or socially bound. The content they produce is a big part of it. It further stated that “freedom of the press is guaranteed by the Constitution of 1992. The media is free to operate at will, under the rules of the National Media Commission. The Access to Information Act of 2019 authorizes journalists to seek information that is of national interest. However, the clause allows for a fee if the requested information is in a language other than English - a condition that is used to deny journalists access to the information they want. To protect their jobs and their safety, they are increasingly turning to self-examination, as the government shows tolerance for criticism. ”
Reporters Without Borders has revealed that the safety of Ghanaian journalists has deteriorated dramatically in recent years.
"For example, campaigners say that by 2020, journalists talking about the effectiveness of the anti-COVID-19 measures were attacked by security forces. These are not the only reasons. ranked 30th in 180 countries with a score of 78.67. ”
In Africa, Ghana is ranked 10th after most countries including Burkina-Faso ranked 6th on the continent.
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