Ghana Slides in Press Freedom Rankings: Journalists Advised to Use Technology and RTI Law

Ghana has dropped 30 places in the 2022 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders. In 2023, the country also slid two steps down on the Global Press Freedom Index from 60 to 62. The report highlights a worrying trend of self-censorship in the media space and frequent attacks on journalists, contributing largely to the decline in rankings.

Nana Acheampong, a Communication Lecturer at the African University College of Communications, bemoaned the current state of media practice in Ghana. According to him, persons in authority use their power to influence journalism, thereby reducing standards. He encouraged journalists to rise above such complaints and use the law to go after news for the people. He also urged media practitioners to take advantage of technology to make an impact in society.

Kofi Yeboah, the General Secretary of Ghana Journalists Association, also expressed concern about the report’s findings on self-censorship. He believes that the frequent attacks on journalists have caused fear and hesitancy among them, leading to self-censorship. He encouraged journalists to make maximum use of the Right to Information (RTI) law, which he says is effective. According to Mr. Yeboah, the RTI Commission has sanctioned the police for not providing information as required by law.

He also advised the media against taking stories from entities outside their media establishment. He stressed that journalists should not take stories from any staff who is not on the editorial department, as that is pure censorship. Mr. Yeboah encouraged journalists to uphold their professionalism and ethics and use the law to their advantage.

For the most part, Ghana’s decline in press freedom rankings is a wake-up call for the media to stand up against attacks and use the law to their advantage. Journalists must not give in to fear and self-censorship but must strive to uphold their professional ethics and report on issues of national importance. The RTI law is a powerful tool that can help journalists access information that would otherwise be kept from the public. Media practitioners must also take advantage of technology to overcome the challenges of inadequate resources and equipment. With these measures, Ghana’s press freedom rankings can improve in the coming years.