By Edzorna Francis Mensah
“The safety of journalists is not negotiable and Journalism is not a crime”, these are words from the Minister of Information delivered to Parliament on efforts to improve the safety of Journalists in Ghana.
In a statement on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, 8th November 2023, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah asserted that Journalists and practice of Journalism and major national services are necessary for the advancement of Ghana’s democracy and good governance.
According to him, “we must invest more resources, advocate for support, strengthen collaboration, as well as hold the police and judicial service accountable for the attacks we have reported to them”.
He said these collaborations will go a long way to deepen the country’s democracy and strengthen Ghanaian society.
In providing the house with an update on efforts by the Government to improve the safety of Journalists in the country, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said, “the phenomenon of attacks and intimidation of Journalists is gaining notoriety in our Republic”, as he submitted that, data available to the Ministry of Information suggests that the trend is ascending.
“Increasingly, various actors in our society – state actors, non-state actors, political parties, operatives, assigns of businesses and everyday citizens are resorting to attacks and intimidation of journalists as a means of expressing their displeasure,” he stressed.
He mentioned that, despite the fact that the freedom of the press is a cornerstone of every democracy, and the protection of those who contribute to the free flow of information should be of paramount importance to the society.
In 2012 the United Nations introduced the UN Plan of Action on the safety of journalists.
This, he noted, has required a multi-stakeholder approach, involving all the actors at the global and country level, to comprehensively address the three Ps, i.e., Prevent violence against journalists, protect journalists in danger, and prosecute the perpetrators. Also, UN SDG 16 requires all countries to demonstrate progress in ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms, which include the right to freedom of expression and safety of journalists.
“The Plan of Action aims at creating a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers. Recommendation measures include, among other undertakings, the establishment of a coordinated inter-agency mechanism to handle issues related to the safety of journalists, as well as assisting countries to develop legislation and mechanisms favorable to freedom of expression and information and supporting their efforts to implement existing international rules and principles”.
In line with above, the Ministry of Information has engaged with stakeholders of the media ecosystem in 2018 to design programs aimed at responding to challenges in the industry.
The Coordinated Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists was birthed from that engagement. In collaboration with the National Media Commission, an office was established on 4th May 2021 to operate that mechanism under the leadership of the NMC.
The mechanism has four (4) major functions
- Regular advocacy and training of key actors including Journalists, security agencies, the judiciary and the general public on the need to uphold the safety of journalists. This also includes the steps journalists can take to protect themselves when conducting investigations, or reporting in potentially violent scenarios such as riots, demonstrations or conflict.
- Investigation and validation of reports of attacks on journalists and media houses.
- Holding the security agencies and the judicial service accountable for the prosecution and severe punishment of persons involved in the attack of journalists or media houses.
- Publication of an annual report on the safety of journalists and efforts to punish attacks on journalists.
