CPJ denounces impunity in attacks on journalists in Ghana

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued a stark report detailing a pattern of impunity for attacks against journalists in Ghana. Since President John Dramani Mahama took office in January 2025, at least 17 journalists have reportedly been assaulted while carrying out their work. These attacks have been perpetrated by a range of actors, including police, military personnel, firefighters, illegal miners, and unidentified individuals. The CPJ documented eight separate incidents, highlighting a disturbing trend despite the president's pledges to bolster press freedom. Journalists like Samuel Addo, who was beaten by firefighters, expressed a desperate need for justice, stating, "We need justice. We are not sure." The organization found little evidence of accountability, with most formal complaints to the police yielding no discernible progress. Reporter Kwabena Agyekum Banahene noted the lack of follow-up, saying, "I don't know if the case is still going on or not." This environment of insecurity has deeply affected media professionals, with some, like Solomon Kwame Kanaluwe, who was beaten by soldiers, questioning their career choices and feeling demotivated to risk their lives. The CPJ's findings directly contradict President Mahama's earlier statements vowing zero tolerance for such attacks, underscoring a significant gap between rhetoric and reality for journalists in Ghana.

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We need justice. We are not sure.