Akufo-Addo has no plan to end abuse, injustice and intimidation of media practitioners

The President of United Press for Development Network (UPDN) Mr. Kofi Asante Mensah says they have observed with keen interest, some unfortunate and misleading message by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo which seem to suggest that media freedom is “expanded”.

According to them, in as much as they acknowledge some efforts by the current administration like the passage of the Right to Information bill into law, UPDN is extremely unsatisfied with the heightening of press intimidation, brutality, assaults and murder of Journalists in Ghana.

Judicial Service has no right or authority to threaten anyone, much less the Media – NDC

They believe that, there is virtually zero commitment by Government to end the abuse of media practitioners, the injustice, undemocratic, primitive and lawlessness by political actors, security and state officials.

“Investigative Journalists, reporters, presenters, writers and hosts are threatened, killed and less or nothing is done when cases are reported to the Police. As some journalists had to seek for asylum others were chased out of their houses. The level of impunity has worsened over the years and it is difficult to bring perpetrators to book.”

“What breaks our heart is the unfair nature of law enforcement to shutdown pro-opposition party media stations by the National Communication Authority (NCA) and establishment of several pro-government stations across the country. The development is a dangerous trend in our society.”

GJA reacts to Judicial Service threats against the Media

“Reporters Without Borders’s World Press Freedom Index (below) contradicts claims by government that Journalists practicing in Ghana are enjoying an expanded media freedom.”

YEAR      RANK

2013          30

2014          27

2015         22

2016         26

2017         26

2018        23

2019        27

2020       30

Rather, Ghana’s latest rank (2020) is comparatively our worse some seven years ago (2013). A clear decline and retrogression.

United Press for Development Network (UPDN) calls on President Nana Addo to do more to curb the menace degrading our democratic credentials.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh