The government has pledged to protect media practitioners against attacks, intimidation, and other forms of abuse in the line of duty.

During the third Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Dinner Night at the Ghana International Press Centre on Monday, December 23, the Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Justice Srem-Sai, stated that journalists who sustain injuries while performing their professional duties will be compensated and supported.

He noted that the assurance forms part of the government’s efforts to safeguard press freedom.

“The first undertaking is that we will not hurt any journalist. The second is that we will not allow anyone to hurt any journalist. The third is that we will punish any person who hurts a journalist. And the final one is that we will compensate any journalist who has been hurt,” Dr. Srem-Sai stated.

Assaults on journalists in the country remain a troubling issue, often making headlines, with recent incidents drawing widespread concern. President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, condemned attacks on journalists during the Ablekuma North rerun election in July.

At the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station in the Ablekuma North constituency, some individuals engaged in a scuffle with police personnel. Additionally, a JoyNews journalist was slapped by an unknown individual, while a journalist with GH One Television, Banahene Agyekum, was also slapped by a police officer.

The Ghana Police Service interdicted the officer caught on camera slapping Agyekum during the rerun election. In line with internal disciplinary procedures, he was referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) for investigation and withdrawn from ongoing election duty at Ablekuma North.

Ghana has currently set a record as the first African country to make a financial contribution to the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM), President John Dramani Mahama announced.

The Fund, established in 2022 by a coalition of governments, philanthropic organisations, and media development experts, aims to address the crisis in media sustainability, particularly in countries where independent journalism is most at risk. Its objectives include increasing resources for trustworthy journalism, supporting long-term solutions to media financing, and promoting democracy, peace, and security through informed public discourse.

Speaking at the High-level International Conference on Information Integrity and Independent Media on Tuesday, October 29, in Paris, France, President Mahama announced that, as a demonstration of his government’s commitment to promoting and ensuring independent media freedom, Ghana will be the first country to contribute financially to the Fund.

“In addition, I’m proud to declare that Ghana will become the first African country to make a financial contribution to the International Fund for Public Interest Media. This gesture reflects our conviction that independent journalism and reliable information are indispensable public goods,” he said. He called on other global leaders to move from words to action in their shared commitment to fight for the public media interest and ensure the genuineness of information shared worldwide.

“The time has come for all of us to translate our shared ideals into tangible action, to demonstrate genuine commitment to supporting public interest media and safeguarding the integrity of information,” he added.

The President also announced that Ghana is set to become a full member of the Partnership for Information and Democracy, noting that the necessary processes for membership have been initiated. The Partnership for Information and Democracy is a non-binding intergovernmental agreement launched in 2019 during the United Nations General Assembly. It builds on the International Declaration on Information and Democracy and aims to protect and promote reliable, pluralistic, and independent information as a cornerstone of democracy.

“This decision has been officially communicated through the appropriate diplomatic channels, affirming Ghana’s unwavering commitment to the principles of transparency, accountability, and open governance. Our landmark decision sends a clear message to the international community that Ghana remains steadfast in advancing the frontiers of freedom, upholding the rule of law, and serving as a model nation in promoting democracy and good governance,” President Mahama noted.

President Mahama expressed satisfaction that the conference achieved tangible outcomes, including: “The endorsement of the Paris Declaration on Multilateral Action for Information Integrity and Independent Media, reaffirming our collective commitment to free, independent, and pluralistic information ecosystems; renewed political and financial commitments to replenish the International Fund for Public Interest Media, targeting €130 million between 2026 and 2028 to support independent journalism worldwide; the establishment of a Consultative Committee to enhance coordination among states, civil society, and the Forum for Information and Democracy; and, above all, a shared understanding that the defence of truth must now be a sustained and collective endeavour, transcending national and institutional boundaries.”

Over the last three years since IFPIM’s establishment, several countries, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Sweden, and the United States, have contributed financially, with varying levels of support from the US, often through philanthropic foundations.

Major philanthropic organisations have also played a crucial role, including the MacArthur Foundation, Luminate, the Gates Foundation, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, and the Open Society Foundations.

By the end of 2024, the Fund had accrued over $50 million USD in total funding, supporting 122 media organisations across 31 countries, with an average grant size of approximately $275,000 USD. Consequently, 63% of grantees reported increased total revenue, while 88% expanded their audience reach.

President Mahama’s latest commitment to media freedom through a financial contribution to IFPIM comes at a time when assaults on journalists remain frequent in Ghana, affecting the country’s global ranking on press freedom. He pledged continued support for media safety, freedom, and a compensation package for journalists who have been assaulted while on duty.

During the GJA’s courtesy call on Friday, September 5, Mr. Albert Dwumfuor reminded the president to uphold his promise to ensure the safety and sustainability of the media in Ghana. He appealed to the president to take concrete steps to end assaults on media professionals.

“Unwarranted attacks on journalists must end. We call on you to ensure that perpetrators of violence against media personnel are held accountable,” he stressed.

During a media engagement on August 16, 2024, then-presidential candidate Mahama pledged to journalists that once in office, his government would protect media freedom and ensure their safety.

“The best thing you can give the media is to give them the freedom to do their work. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened under this government. Media people have been hounded, some have run into exile, some have been threatened, their lives have been threatened, and indeed some have paid the ultimate price like Ahmed Suale did,” he said. He continued with a personal pledge: “You can trust that as a person who is a member of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) myself, I am not the kind of person who would hound the media, and so one gift I can give to you is the freedom to do your work without anybody intimidating and harassing you.”

Mr. Dwumfuor urged President Mahama to exercise his executive powers by enacting stronger laws to empower security agencies to protect journalists. He noted that attacks on journalists are often premeditated, making them aggravated offences that require tougher punishment.

“Your Excellency, we encourage you to invoke your executive powers to enact a law to empower security agencies to protect journalists. Since most of these attacks are premeditated, they must be treated as aggravated offences. If we continue to treat them as misdemeanours, it will not serve as a deterrent,” he said.

President John Dramani Mahama, at the same event, revealed that he has received a report from the Ghana Police Service containing records of all victims of electoral violence. He stated that after a thorough review of the report, victims would be duly compensated. Additionally, he assured that the compensation package would also cover journalists who have suffered repeated attacks during elections.

“…And so once that is done, I’m sure that if there were journalists involved, they would also be considered for compensation,” he added.