Ghana

Jalulah, the Upper East regional correspondent of the Accra-based “The Chronicle” newspaper, was violently assaulted by supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) for photographing a violent attack.

(MFWA/IFEX) – On 9 April 2009, the government of Ghana announced the withdrawal of a directive it had issued on 16 March requiring foreign journalists and media outlets to seek clearance and official guides from the Ministry of Information before covering any event or issue in the country, and to submit copies of their material […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – On 27 February 2009, an Accra High Court exonerated Western Publications Limited, publishers of the Accra-based privately-owned “Daily Guide” newspaper, on libel charges brought against it by Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni. The court, presided over by Justice K. A. Acquaye, awarded 1,000 GH Cedis (approx. US$800) each in favour of the […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – On 20 February 2009, the director-general of the state-owned Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), William Ampen-Darko, ordered an abrupt end to a live discussion programme on Ghana Television (GTV)’s “Breakfast Show” following a complaint of bias against the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC). Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that Richard Quarshigah, […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – On 11February 2009, Rashidatu Kadiri of Atlantis Radio and Dorcas Oparibea of Top Radio were assaulted by a policeman at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra, while they were covering a mid-week league game between Accra Hearts of Oak and Ashantigold. The policeman allegedly held Oparibea’s breast and pushed her to the […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – Bismark Bebli, political reporter of “The Chronicle”, an Accra-based independent newspaper, was attacked on 18 January 2009 by irate supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), while covering a post-election rally at Abeka Lapaz, a suburb of Accra. Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)?s correspondent reported that the supporters heckled and insulted […]

SPEAKING OUT FOR FREE EXPRESSION 1987-2007 AND BEYOND: Ghana

(MFWA/IFEX) – On 30 December 2008 a group of journalists from Accra and Kumasi were on driven out of a press conference organized by Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s presidential candidate. Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that about 10 journalists, all of whom are from the electronic media, […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – On 28 December 2008, Alex Kobina Mensah, a journalist with Joy FM, an Accra-based independent radio station, was allegedly assaulted by supporters of Ghana’s main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in Ashaiman, a town in the Greater Accra Region. The NDC supporters apparently were displeased with a report prepared by Mensah. […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – On 31 December 2008, Metropolitan Television (Metro TV), an Accra-based independent television station, filed a complaint at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service about threats and physical attacks on its personnel by supporters of the two main political parties in the country. The MFWA’s correspondent reported that in less […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – Babs Hammer, a cameraman for Ghana’s former president Jerry John Rawlings, was reportedly attacked on 14 December 2008 by members of the entourage of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). The cameraman was targeted for filming Akufo-Addo without his permission. MFWA’s correspondent reported that the […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – On 8 November 2008, Wisdom Peter Awuku, a reporter for the “Daily Guide”, an Accra-based privately-owned newspaper, was allegedly assaulted by three men guarding a house belonging to Ghana’s former president, Jerry John Rawlings, in Vume, a town near Sogakope in the Volta Region. According to Awuku, the guards assaulted him and briefly […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – On 1 November 2008, Eric Amoh, a reporter for Ghana News Agency (GNA), a state-owned news wire service, was allegedly assaulted by Martin Ako, an aide to the Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central, Kofi Adda. Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent reported that the aide slapped Amoh and rained blows on […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – Mark-Anthony Vinorkor and Samuel Tei Adano, a reporter and photographer, respectively, for the state-owned newspaper “Daily Graphic”, were violently attacked by security personnel working for the state-run Tema Development Corporation (TDC) on 22 October 2008. MFWA’s correspondent reported that the incident occurred at Community Four, where the two had gone to cover a […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – On 28 July 2008, reporter Osei Kwame, of “Kumasi Mail”, an independent weekly newspaper based in Kumasi, Ghana’s second largest city, was detained and briefly held captive in the Chief’s Palace by Nana Osei Bonsu, chief of Abira, a town in the Kwabre District of the Ashanti Region. Kwame told Media Foundation for […]

(MFWA/IFEX) – On 5 August 2008, police officers stormed the premises of Radio Gold, an Accra-based pro-opposition FM station, and assaulted a number of individuals, including a station employee and a newspaper graphic designer. Fred Ayensu Lindsay, the station’s financial controller, and Mohammed Caliph, a graphic designer for the “Daily Guide” privately-owned newspaper, were assaulted […]