Information minister proposes severe punishment for attacks on journalists

The Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, has said that the government is advocating for stiffer punishment for individuals who assault journalists in their lines of duty. 

This development comes in response to a concerning rise in attacks on media personnel.

Briefing the media on Wednesday, May 22, Ms Abubakar disclosed that the Information Ministry has held a stakeholder engagement with the judicial service to discuss the issue and seek effective solutions.

“So if you would remember, when there was this issue between Caleb Kudah and the National Security, Citi FM wrote a petition and it was a petition to the mechanism [National Media Commission]. So it was the mechanism that took over the case to the extent that National Security had to respond.

“… In January and February, we had a stakeholder engagement with the judicial service. As a ministry, we are adding our voices to the advocacy for stiffer punishment for people who attack journalists…”

“Because if you look at the research that CDD does, if you look at the research that the Media Foundation of West Africa does, we easily assume that attacks on journalists come from politicians. But largely, they realize that the data was showing its security agencies and others,” Ms Abubakar said.

Over the past five years, from 2019 to 2023, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has documented a total of 45 cases of assault and attacks against journalists and media institutions.

The year 2023 alone witnessed the highest number of cases per year, with four cases reported in October.

This disturbing trend signifies a worsening situation and underscores the urgent need for intervention to protect media freedom in Ghana.