Media professionals assaulted
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – On Monday 16 July 2001, media professionals from the SKY FM radio station in Sunyani, in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, were severely manhandled by a mob claiming to be angry football fans. The journalists and some staff of the non-governmental organisation Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) were returning […]
Defeated NDC government attempts to muzzle free speech
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – Jerry Rawlings’ defeated National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has shifted into gear to gag free speech. The NDC party has issued two writs against the editor of the daily “Evening News” and the New Times Corporation (NTC) publishing company, seeking damages for articles published in the Monday 12 March and Tuesday […]
Editor jailed
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – On Monday 31 January 2000, a High Court in Accra presided over by Justice Apaloo sentenced Stephen Owusu, editor of the private newspaper “Free Press”, to one day in prison for publishing a story which is the subject matter of a legal battle currently before the court. The editor was also […]
Ghana Journalists Association reacts to fine
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – The following is a statement released on 1 June 1999 by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in reaction to the fine imposed on the “Ghanaian Chronicle”: **Updates IFEX alert of 1 June 1999** The Ghana Journalists Association has learnt with a great deal of dismay and concern of the unprecedented record […]
Editor and publishers fined for libel
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – An Accra High Court has ordered the “Ghanaian Chronicle”, a private newspaper in Ghana, to pay an unprecedented record fine of forty-two million cedis (approx. US$17,500) for libel to Minister of Roads and Transport Edward Salia. Presided by Justice S. T. Faakye, the court held that Salia had suffered damage to […]
Editor and deputy editor fined for contempt
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – Ebo Quansah and Mohammed Affum, editor and deputy editor, respectively, of “The Ghanaian Chronicle”, an independent newspaper in Ghana, were fined one million cedis each (US$400) for contempt of court by an Accra High Court presided by Mr. Justice R. K. Apaloo on 18 May 1999. They have been given seven […]
Publisher dies; libel trial adjourned
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – FEG announced yesterday that Tommy Thompson, publisher of the “Free Press Newspaper”, died after a short illness at the SSNIT Hospital in Accra. He was 66 years old. He’s believed to have passed away on 21 September. **Updates IFEX alerts dated 13 August 1998, 30 and 28 July 1998, and 23 […]
Welcome ceremony planned upon release of jailed editors
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – A grand welcome ceremony has been planned for jailed editors Haruna Atta, Kweku Baako Jr. and Ato Sam to mark their release from prison on 22 August 1998. This is part of the effort by Friends of Free Expression, an ad hoc pressure group, to encourage members of the general public […]
Court to rule on whether or not to allow verbatim reports by journalists of legal proceedings against two journalists and publisher
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – An Accra circuit court trying two journalists, Eben Quarcoo and Kofi Coomson, together with Tommy Thompson, publisher of the “Free Press”, is to rule on whether or not to allow verbatim reports by journalists of legal proceedings against the trio. No dates have been fixed for the hearing, but Judge Victor […]
Jailed editors Atta and Baako Jr. denied bail
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – On 31 July 1998, the Court of Appeal dismissed an application for bail filed by jailed editors Haruna Atta (“The Weekend Statesman”), and Kweku Baako Jr. (“The Guide”), pending the determination of an appeal against their conviction. In a split decision, the Court ruled that the application was unmeritorious. Justices J. […]
Another editor jailed
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – On 27 July 1998, Mr. Ebenezer Ato Sam, suspended editor of the “Free Press”, was found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to a jail term of 21days in default of a 5 million cedis (about US$2,000) fine. The sentence was handed down in an Accra High Court presided over […]
Passports of two editors seized by court order
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – Two journalists, Eben Quarcoo and Kofi Coomson, whose arrests were ordered by the court last week, have had their bail conditions rescinded and their passports deposited with the courts for fear that they would jump bail before their case is heard. **Updates IFEX alert of 28 July 1998** In a submission […]
3 incarcerated journalists separated
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – Three recently jailed Ghanaian journalists, Haruna Atta, Kweku Baako Jr., and Ebenezer Ato Sam, have been moved from the relatively better conditions at the Nsawam Medium Prisons to three different locations in the country which are notorious for their poor conditions. **Updates IFEX alerts of 30, 28 and 24 July** Kweku […]
Details on conviction of editors; journalists arrested and remanded
(Free Expression Ghana/IFEX) – It was reported on 24 July 1998 (see IFEX alert) that two journalists, Haruna Atta, editor of “The Weekend Statesman”, and Kweku Baako Jr., editor of “The Guide”, had been found guilty of contempt of court by the Court of Appeal. The contempt conviction was handed down for publishing libellous material […]