Ghana has seen a positive jump in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, climbing 12 spots to 50th place.
President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, commemorating the World Press Freedom Day in Koforidua on Friday, May 3 said the latest position marks a significant improvement after two consecutive years of decline.
In 2023, Ghana reached its lowest ranking in 18 years, slipping to 62nd from 60th the previous year.
Dwumfuor attributed this year’s success to the GJA’s “aggressive actions” in defending journalistic freedom. A key strategy, he highlighted, was blacklisting political figures whose supporters had targeted journalists and media outlets.
However, challenges persist. Dwumfuor condemned the recent petrol bomb attack on Class FM, calling it a “terrorist act” and a sign of a worrying trend. He urged the Ghana Police Service to swiftly investigate and prosecute the perpetrators.
Despite these obstacles, the GJA remains committed to utilising journalism to tackle pressing environmental issues like illegal mining, sanitation, and climate change. This aligns perfectly with the global theme for World Press Freedom Day 2024: “Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the environmental crisis.”
“The GJA seeks to lead a strong media campaign for the protection of the environment and the good of the country,” Dwumfuor declared.
He urged journalists to join the fight against illegal small-scale mining (“galamsey”) and focus on other environmental concerns.
He said the GJA is actively collaborating with key institutions like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and seeks further cooperation with stakeholders and security agencies.