President John Dramani Mahama has urged ministers in charge of all security agencies to establish a forum bringing together the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and security agencies to address the persistent harassment of media personnel during official events.
Speaking during a courtesy call by GJA executives at the Presidency, the President acknowledged that security officers frequently interfere with journalists performing their legitimate duties, contributing to Ghana’s declining international press freedom rankings.
” with that, the Ghana Journalists Association and these security agencies can interact, so that it sends a message to them that journalists are not enemies,” President Mahama stated.
The President revealed he has personally witnessed security personnel harassing journalists at events, describing incidents where officers prevent media workers from standing or filming without justification.
He noted that he often has to intervene personally to protect journalists from unnecessary interference.
“Many times when I go to a function and I’m seated, I normally look at the way the journalists are being handled. And you find that there are some security personnel who just have a knack for harassing journalists,” the President observed.
President Mahama expressed particular concern about the lack of training among security officers, especially those from national security agencies, who fail to understand that journalists have legitimate work responsibilities just as security personnel do.
“They don’t have training to understand that journalists are doing their work. You have the job of protecting the VIP or whatever. The journalists do have their work of reporting, doing their job and reporting what is going on there,” he explained.
President Mahama stated that Ghana has seen a consistent decline in international press freedom rankings, which he described as an issue of concern.
He attributed this partly to journalist harassment and the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, which caught international attention.
“We’ve seen a consistent decline in our ranking, international rankings. And that is an issue of concern for us. And part of it is because of issues to do with harassment of journalists and even the unfortunate murder of Ahmed Suale, which caught international attention,” President Mahama noted.
The President also announced that he has received the Inspector General of Police’s investigative report on electoral violence that occurred in 2020 and 2024.
The report has been forwarded to the Attorney General for review and potential prosecutions of those responsible for violence against various victims, including journalists.
“Last week, I received the investigative report on the two incidents and detailed and catalogued everybody who was affected by the violence and what the circumstances were that led to the violence. We’ve handed it over to the Attorney General,” the President disclosed.
The Attorney General has been given additional terms of reference to determine adequate compensation for violence victims, including families of those killed and individuals living with injuries. President Mahama indicated that journalists affected by electoral violence would be considered for compensation under this framework.
The President emphasized the need for deterrent measures against those who harass or harm journalists, stating that without consequences, such behavior continues.
He stressed that creating awareness about journalists’ legitimate role in society remains essential for protecting media freedom.
“We need to find a way of, one, ensuring that people, when they do that kind of thing, face sanctions or are punished. Because once there’s no deterrent, they continue to do it,” President Mahama explained.
The President committed to working with the GJA to improve Ghana’s international press freedom rankings and restore the country’s position as a leader in media freedom across Africa.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
