Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
Former Information Minister and MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has called for renewed efforts to strengthen protection for journalists, urging government to sustain and improve existing mechanisms to prevent attacks and intimidation.
He said protecting press freedom requires practical measures to ensure journalists can work without fear of violence, harassment or intimidation.
Speaking in connection with the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said attacks on journalists remain a key method used to undermine press freedom and restrict freedom of expression.
He said the issue goes beyond physical attacks to include broader attempts to limit journalists and citizens from freely expressing themselves and participating in public discourse.
He expressed concern about developments in the past one or two years, citing what he described as trumped-up charges, arrests and detentions over alleged statements, including cases where national security was invoked.
He warned that such measures could undermine public confidence in democratic institutions, and cautioned government against complacency due to perceived goodwill or silence from some civil society groups.
Recalls Safety Mechanism
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah recalled the Coordinated Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists, established through the National Media Commission (NMC) during his tenure, as a major intervention to address attacks on journalists.
The mechanism was designed to provide an organised framework for reporting, documenting and following up on threats and attacks, and to ensure the Ghana Police Service responded appropriately and provided updates on investigations.
He said the framework sought to make law enforcement more accountable by requiring periodic and annual reports on cases and actions taken, stressing that condemning attacks alone would not solve the problem unless perpetrators were held accountable.
His comments recall his call on October 29, 2023, at the 27th GJA Media Awards, where he urged the Police to expedite investigations and provide regular updates, warning that increasing attacks posed a threat to Ghana’s democratic credentials.
That intervention also included collaboration with civil society to educate state and non-state actors on journalists’ safety and support for media associations to improve working conditions.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah expressed concern that the mechanism was not receiving needed attention and urged the current administration not to allow it to become inactive.
He said strengthening the arrangement would provide a more effective system for protecting journalists, noting that journalism has evolved with digital platforms and protection measures must reflect that.
He maintained that journalists’ safety should be treated as a shared national responsibility involving government, law enforcement, media organisations, civil society and the public.
A Daily Guide Report