Former president John Mahama has chastised the Akufo-Addo-led government over what he describes as Ghana’s deteriorated ranking on the World Press Freedom index.
Ghana has for the second successive year dropped on the annual Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The country’s ranking fell from 60th place last year to 62nd in 2023. However, among African countries, Ghana placed 9th, an improvement from its 10th position in the 2022 report. This is Ghana’s worst performance in 18 years since it placed 66th in 2005.
Sharing his thought on the development on Facebook on Thursday (4 May), Mahama commended journalists who continue to defy the odds in exposing the ills in society.
“It is in the interest of young democracies like ours that the role of the independent media, in holding governments accountable, is protected. As the world commemorates World Press Freedom Day, I salute our gallant Ghanaian journalists who defy all manner of threats and inducements, and courageously continue to expose wrongs in our society,” he wrote on Facebook.
“With the blot of the still unsolved murder of Ahmed Suale weighing heavily on the nation’s conscience, the government owes it a duty to our country to do better by working hand-in-hand with our press men and women in building a safer, more just and transparent society.”
“Our deteriorated ranking on the World Press Freedom Index should be a shame to the Akufo-Addo & Bawumia administration. This is not the Ghana the world had come to know. Happy World Press Freedom Day,” Mahama posted.
Below is the full post:
This year’s World Press Freedom Day is on the theme: “Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights.”
This year marks the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day. It serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics.
Reporting by Fred Dzakpata in Accra
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