Ghana is one of the highly respected countries when it comes to press freedom credentials globally. However, events unfolding these past few years has in one way or the other painted a gloomy picture of the press freedom situation in the country. Rampant attacks on journalists has showed that there is a growing sense of intimidation of the media, and a growing culture of intolerance for dissenting views.
In the last decade, the number of reported cases of torture and abuse of journalists by Ghanaian security agencies have increased significantly. Lack of prosecution or sanctions against errant officers is believed to have made the situation a worsening epidemic. In light of all of these, many would not be surprised as Ghana has dropped 30 places on the 2022 World Press Freedom index. The 2022 index put together by campaign group, Reporters Without Borders, saw Ghana ranking 60 after placing 30 in 2022.
The report which comes on the back of recent reports, that the Ghanaian government has been clamping down on dissent and claims of a surge in press freedom violations, is Ghana’s lowest ranking ever in 17 years after it ranked 66th and 67th in 2005 and 2002 respectively. This report has actually got a lot of people especially those in minority talking. In a recent tweet, MP for Ningo Prampram Sam Nartey George is calling on all and sundry to pray for the country.
He wrote: “This government has had the least critical media for obvious reasons, yet it has visited the worst suppression of the media in our history. Our drop in the Press Freedom rankings tell the grim story of Ghana today under a supposed defender of the rule of law. Pray for Ghana.”
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