Ghana: Press Freedom Must Go Beyond Promises

What the report says

Ghanaian Times, in an editorial distributed by AllAfrica, says the 30th anniversary of the Ghana Journalists Association Media Awards should be more than a celebratory milestone. The piece argues that the occasion highlights unresolved pressures on the country’s media sector, including press freedom concerns, attacks on journalists, weak pay, limited resources and the spread of misinformation. It says these problems require practical steps from government, media owners, regulators and journalists, rather than repeated assurances.

A key focus of the editorial is President John Dramani Mahama’s pledge to include GH¢10 million in the 2027 national budget as seed money for a reactivated Media Development Fund. According to the report, the fund is intended to support journalists’ welfare, training, investigative reporting and safety measures, with further support expected from private companies. The newspaper welcomes the idea but stresses that the fund must be run transparently and independently, without political influence.

The editorial also cites GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour as saying the association recorded more than 50 incidents involving assaults, arrests, harassment or other attacks on journalists between 2022 and January 2026. It says these cases, including alleged involvement by security personnel in some instances, should be investigated openly and addressed consistently. The piece notes Ghana’s rise in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index from 52nd to 39th place, but says rankings should not overshadow the daily realities faced by journalists. It concludes that protecting journalists is essential to democratic life and media credibility.