Ghana has made significant strides in media freedom, according to the latest World Press Freedom Index 2024 published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The West African nation jumped from 62nd place in 2023 to 50th in the latest ranking, marking a notable improvement and placing it among the top 50 countries out of 180 in the study.
RSF highlighted Ghana’s vibrant and pluralistic media environment, noting diverse media platforms and a generally favourable legal framework for journalism.
Despite this progress, the political context remains a concern. The report referenced an incident in which members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) forcefully entered the studios of United Television (UTV) in Accra, raising questions about political interference and the safety of journalists. Additionally, the ruling party requested that the privately owned United TV channel include one of its members in its broadcasts to ensure “balance,” highlighting ongoing political pressures on media outlets.
Globally, the 2024 World Press Freedom Index reflects a worrying trend: a decline in the political indicator, with a global average drop of 7.6 points.
RSF’s editorial director, Anne Bocandé, explained, “As more than half the world’s population goes to the polls in 2024, RSF is warning of a worrying trend revealed by the 2024 World Press Freedom Index: a decline in the political indicator, one of five indicators detailed in the Index. States and other political forces are playing a decreasing role in protecting press freedom.”
“This disempowerment sometimes goes hand in hand with more hostile actions that undermine the role of journalists, or even instrumentalise the media through campaigns of harassment or disinformation.”
