The Adom Brands of the Multimedia Group will on Friday, September 27 hold a national dialogue on press freedom as part of preparations for the 2024 elections.
The dialogue, themed ‘Defending Media Freedom,’ will bring together key stakeholders, including government officials, journalists, and regulators.
It will set the stage to discuss strategies that would ensure the press in Ghana discharge their duties without fear and intimidation.
The dialogue has been informed by Ghana’s decline on the World Press Freedom Index over the past three years.
Ghana, once a beacon of press freedom in Africa, slipped from the 30th position in 2021 to the 62nd position in 2023.
About a decade ago, Ghana ranked among the top 30 countries globally for press freedom, scoring above 80%, which earned it an “A” grade and placed it as the third-best in Africa, after Namibia and Cabo Verde.
This alarming trend poses a serious threat to the fundamental human right of freedom of speech and has led to increased threats and attacks on journalists.
The rapid spread of disinformation and misinformation further complicates the media landscape, particularly with the 2024 general elections approaching.
According to the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), journalists have faced threats, arrests, detentions, and even torture from state agencies, including the police, military, and political operatives.
MFWA has documented this threat, raising concern about the alarming increase in misinformation and disinformation in Ghana and West Africa.
The dissemination of false information has the potential to undermine democratic processes and erode public trust in the media.
During the 42nd Session of the Universal Periodic Review of Ghana, Denmark called for the development of a National Action Plan to prevent attacks on journalists and promote media freedom.
This recommendation underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive and coordinated effort to address these pressing issues.
A survey conducted by the University of Ghana’s School of Communications, published in 2024, revealed that about 40% of journalists have experienced attacks while performing their duties.
Additionally, nearly 70% of respondents were aware of colleagues who had been attacked.
MFWA reported that, 17 journalists were attacked over a 15-month period from 2022 to early 2024.
These attacks include physical violence, threats, and other forms of intimidation, often perpetrated by political supporters and, in some cases, by security forces.
These incidents contribute to a general feeling of insecurity among journalists, affecting their ability to report freely and impartially.
These challenges have made the environment for journalism, and for the public’s right to reliable, independent, and diverse news and information, increasingly difficult.
Political attacks on press freedom, such as the suppression of independent media outlets and the widespread dissemination of misinformation, have also intensified.
In light of these issues, the Adom Brands of the Multimedia Group believes it is urgent to address the theme and emphasize that media freedom is critical to the nation’s democracy.
The event will take place in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi and will also be broadcast live on Adom TV, Adom FM, Asempa FM with comprehensive publications on Adomonline.com and streamed on its social media platforms.