Ghana

Justice Paul Uuter Dery, who has been implicated in a bribery and corruption exposé by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has accused the MFWA, an IFEX member, of contempt of court.

The protesters, who were led by members of pressure group, Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) were demonstrating to demand that Electoral Commission of Ghana compiles a new voters’ register. Members of the Ghana Police Service chased, arrested, tear-gassed and whipped some of the demonstrators.

Burkina Faso recently became the 7th West African country to pass a freedom of information law. Now, the Media Foundation for West Africa is calling upon Ghana to join the club, and pass similar legislation.

Hear how the Media Foundation for West Africa’s project is helping those who report on Ebola, and those who rely on that reporting to stay healthy.

The Interconnect Clearing House could provide an opportunistic channel for any group or government to abuse privacy and other online rights of citizens.

The Information Center on Communicable Diseases forms part of the Media Foundation for West Africa’s Ebola and Media project, aimed at strengthening public education on Ebola and improving information flow through local radio stations.

“The findings are worrying and we need to change this situation…local radio stations are arguably the most influential and powerful platforms for fostering participatory, accountable and transparent governance, particularly at the local level.”

Even before the end of the first quarter of 2014, the MFWA’s Freedom of Expression and safety of journalists monitoring shows that four cases of press freedom violations have been committed by members of the security agencies.

On 17 February, about 30 youth stormed the premises of Gift FM in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. The action followed a news item aired about the alleged banishment of Fred Yeboah – the general manager of the Presbyterian Hospital in the town – by the Dormaa traditional council.

On 22 January 2014, police arrested Tinaa Adams and two guests on her morning show, following a discussion about the spate of armed robbery in Ghana’s Upper West region.The police also seized some equipment from the radio station.

On 31 July 2013, a fast-track high court in Accra fined two newspapers an amount of 180,000 Ghana Cedis (about US $86,282) in damages for publishing libelous information against Mr. Joe Baidoe-Ansah, a Member of Parliament.

A reporting crew from Adom FM was physically assaulted after attempting to interview the head pastor of a church near Accra. This is the second time this year that journalists have been assaulted at a church premises.

Nii Martey Botwe and Vincent Dzatse were attacked by security officials while covering Ghana’s 56th independence anniversary ceremony.

The first of the attacks occurred on 9 December when a mob of New Patriotic Party (NPP) sympathisers chased and vandalised a vehicle conveying a crew from the privately-owned television station Metro TV to the NPP’s office in Osu, a suburb of Accra.

Rights groups organised a national conference in Accra to intensify their long campaign for passage into law of the long-delayed bill.

Victor Kwawukume was treated for head injuries and discharged from hospital.