Mr. Kevin Brosnahan, Press Attaché of the US Embassy in Ghana, has urged journalists to be focused, resolute, and unafraid of intimidation while performing their responsibilities.
"Don't give up; professional journalists are on the side of truth," he added. "Be vigilant, be cautious, double-check your sources, and don't be in a hurry to publish; be in a hurry to be correct.
Mr Brosnahan stated this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) while representing the Embassy's Deputy Chief of Mission, Madam Nicole Chulick, at the 2022 World Press Freedom Commemoration in Accra.
He was referring to Reporters Without Borders' 2022 Global Press Freedom Index, in which Ghana was ranked 60th out of 30 countries.
The index was created by taking into account the intricacies of press freedom in the political, legal, economic, and sociocultural contexts, as well as security. Mr Brosnahan, who expressed satisfaction with conversations on many forums about how journalists may be better protected, urged the government and the public to play critical roles in safeguarding the safety of journalists, who he said were vital to the promotion of democracy and national progress.
"I believe the Ghanaian government is concerned about the issue. We must investigate journalist intimidation, as well as how they are handled and threatened with violence. "Those were the concerns indicated by the index," he continued.
Mr Affail Monney, President of the GJA, said the reduction in ranking was expected owing to a convergence of anti-media elements, but the Association did not expect it to be so "precipitous" — from third to tenth place in Africa and 30th to 60th place globally, a 100% drop.
"We watched with dread and listened with shiver as a number of journalists in the line of duty were subjected to indiscriminate arrests, reckless violence, and animalistic contempt for their rights."
"The predictable result has been a dramatic decline in journalist safety." Death threats against investigative journalists were likewise ignored, much alone prosecuted, while law enforcement agents who were meant to protect them instead brutalized them," he added.
Mr. Monney stated that Ahmed Suale's killing in the most atrocious of circumstances three years ago had left a stain on Ghana's image as a land of freedom and justice, a fortress of media freedom, and a beacon of democratic achievement in Africa.
He said, "Assurance after assurance of apprehending the criminals has remained meaningless rhetoric."
Nonetheless, according to the GJA President, the global ranking recognizes Ghana as a regional cornerstone of democratic stability.
He said that the media's revival necessitated a clear, bold, and strong position in dealing surgically with impunity's malignant expansion.