Accra, Ghana//- The West Africa Editors Society (WAES) has expressed grave concern over what they see as a threat to media freedom in Ghana.
Justice Nana Brew of the Human Rights Court 2 in Accra recently ruled against investigative journalist Innocent Samuel Appiah, whom businesswoman Cynthia Adjei sued over his investigation into her business dealings.
The investigation focused on Mrs Adjei’s business registration, tax obligations, and access to government land, all of which are matters of public interest.
However, the judge sided with Mrs Adjei, citing concerns over her privacy and suggesting that Mr Appiah should have instead reported his findings to state investigative agencies, including the police Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Economic and Organised Crime Organisation (EOCO), among others.
In a press release issued and signed in Accra by the Interim President of WAES, Emmanuel K Dogbevi, said: “WAES is disturbed by the ruling because it has the ominous potential to silence journalists and reduce them to mere informants for law enforcement.
Journalism is a public good, and journalists must be free to report on matters of public interest without fear of reprisal and the use of the law courts to intimidate and gag them.
The growing trend of using frivolous law suits to stop media organisations and journalists from either writing or publishing stories, does not look good on a country like Ghana that is often looked upon as a good example of a multiparty democracy,”he said.
Mr Dogbevi who is also the Vice-President of The African Editors Forum (TAEF) urged Ghanaian journalists to remain resolute in pursuit of their constitutional obligations in exposing wrongdoing in the society, holding power to account and informing the people. History will be their best judge,” he added.
“In the view of WAES this case is a clear attempt at censorship, particularly given Mrs. Adjei’s connections to a politically exposed person – her husband was a public figure who has headed state enterprises that have done business with her company.
WAES hereby call on the Ghanaian justice system to ensure its decisions do not undermine press freedom, which is crucial for democracy. The justice system should ensure the constitutional guarantees to journalists to operate freely without let or hindrance in so far as they are doing their job as they should, adhering to the law and ethics of the profession”.
Mr Dogbevi warned that actions like the one by this court sends the wrong signal and poses a threat to press freedom and the ability of journalists to report the news in the public interest.
Instructively, the West Africa Editors Society is a regional body representing editors in West Africa. It is an affiliate of The African Editors Forum (TAEF), which is the continental group of editors in Africa.
