Ghanaian court ruling sparks concerns over press freedom

A recent ruling by the Human Rights Court 2 in Accra has raised alarms among press freedom advocates, with the West Africa Editors Society (WAES) expressing grave concerns over what it sees as a threat to media freedom in Ghana.

The court ruled against investigative journalist Innocent Samuel Appiah, who was sued by businesswoman Cynthia Adjei over his investigation into her business dealings. The investigation focused on Mrs. Adjei’s business registration, tax obligations, conflict of interest, and access to government lands, all of which are matters of public interest.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Nana Brew sided with Mrs. Adjei, citing concerns over her privacy and suggesting that Mr. Appiah should have reported his findings to state investigative agencies.

Describing the ruling as disturbing, WAES argues that it could 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,” said Emmanuel K Dogbevi, interim President of WAES, who is also the Vice-President of The African Editors Forum (TAEF).

WAES sees the ruling as a clear attempt at censorship, particularly given Adjei’s connections to politically exposed persons, including her husband Jacob Adjei, a former acting managing director of GOIL PLC, and her close friend Samira Bawumia, wife of Ghana’s former vice president.

WAES is calling on the Ghanaian justice system to ensure its decisions do not undermine press freedom, crucial for democracy, and emphasized that journalists must operate freely, adhering to the law and ethics of their profession, without hindrance.

By Peter Quarshie

The post Ghanaian court ruling sparks concerns over press freedom appeared first on Ghana Business News.

Read Full Story