It is public knowledge how journalists and other men of the media have suffered brutal attacks at the hands of both the civilians and police officers who are paid with the taxpayers' money to provide security for all.
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Ghana is the most dangerous country for journalists in Africa and 23rd globally – UPDN implicates government
As Ghana has recorded 31 cases of assaults on journalists in the year 2018, in most of which perpetrators have been left of the hook with impunity, the United Press for Development Network has accused the government of Ghana of sitting on the fence as media freedom plummets.
Ghana is the most dangerous country for journalists in Africa and 23rd globally – UPDN implicates government
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Ghana used to be known as a haven for journalists where media freedom was guaranteed, ostensibly for which reason it hosted the World Press Freedom Day in May.
But that UPDN has rubbished that accolade, saying: “Impunity for crimes against journalists has literally become the order of the day. Despite the several reported incidents of violations against journalists, punishment of perpetrators has been very rare, if any at all.”
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Ghana is the most dangerous country for journalists in Africa and 23rd globally – UPDN implicates government
Pulse Ghana
According to Reporters Without Borders, Ghana is ‘playing a leadership role’ in suppressing media freedom in Africa as it places first on the continent and 23rd in the world.
It would have been expected that the state would have been serious about providing safety for journalists in Ghana given their essence in every democratic governance. However, some attacks inflicted on media men are sometimes either perpetrated or masterminded by state agents.
An analysis of the report on RSF’s website reads: “Any reporting critical of the authorities tends to get a poor reception in sub-Saharan Africa. The departure of some of the continent’s worst press freedom predators could open the way to a new era for journalism in the countries concerned.”
UPDN added that: “This culture of impunity for crimes against journalists only emboldens perpetrators and encourages others to abuse journalists.”
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Going forward, the organisation entreats the government of Ghana to “mount more pressure to curb this evil and disgraceful canker.”
Coupled with the assaults is the difficulty in obtaining information, a necessity for journalism.
The long anticipated and controversial Right to Information Bill is still sitting in parliament without being passed into law, after promises upon promises for over a decade.
In fact, UPDN could not have said it any better.
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