Sulemana Braimah, the executive director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has said the Ghanaian media is under siege following recent arrest of some personalities including media practitioners for false publication.
At least three individuals including the executive director of ASEPA Mensah Thompson and governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bono regional chairman Kwame Baffoe (popularly known as Abronye DC), are currently being tried in court over statements they made in the media that the police say amount to false publications.
Speaking on Asaase Radio Friday (18 February), Braimah said: “So, if a journalist feel that, ‘what is happening makes me unsafe and I am likely to be picked or to be arrested or to be beaten or bullied,’ then it leads to self-censorship and of course even if the person does not self-censor, he may or she may put out what he may put out there with fear.”
“And of course you don’t want people to act while entertaining some fear. Journalists have to do the right thing, they have to be critical, they have to hold those in power to account, and do so without fear or a sense of intimidation,” Braimah said.
According to him, the current environment does not encourage the practice of objective journalism.
“But I think that if you speak to many journalists today, they will tell you that the kind of environment that we exist in now, it is one that is not too cordial for mental freedom to practice journalism. If you ask me, some of the things that are being said are reckless,” Braimah added.
The state has charged social media activist and convenor of pressure group #FixTheCountry, Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor, with treason felony, contrary to section 182 (b) of the Criminal and other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
According to the charge sheet filed at the Ashiaman District Court, the particulars of the offence indicates that the accused person, Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor, sometime in February 2022, prepared to undertake any unlawful means an enterprise that usurps the executive powers of the Government of Ghana.
The convenor of pressure group #FixTheCountry, Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor, was picked up by the Tema Regional Police on Saturday 12 February 2022, for allegedly stating that he would stage a coup in Ghana if Parliament passes the E-Levy bill.
In a statement, the police said on Saturday (12 February) that Barker-Vormawor is being kept at the Tema regional police command for further investigations into his social media post.
Kwabena Bobie Ansah’s arrest Kwabena Bobie Ansah, a presenter with Accra FM was arrested for publishing false news, police have said.
A statement issued by the police on Friday (11 February) said his arrest became necessary after turning down several invitations from the police to assist with the investigation.
Freedom with limitation Speaking on The Forum on Asaase Radio on Saturday (12 February), Kwame Jantuah, a private legal practitioner said reckless speech has the potential of instigating unrest and therefore, the need for every freedom of speech to come with limitations.
He said: “Barker-Vormawor is a constitutional lawyer and he should know better, shouldn’t he? And we talk about free speech, free speech comes with responsibility. You don’t just get up and say things and just walk free because “free speech”, comes with responsibility and limitations.
“…And the thing about it is that it’ll instigate others who want a leader or somebody to help them run that cause. I said here the last time, I’ve lived through all the coups, from childhood to adulthood, it has not been a nice event. Nobody should even think about it because it won’t help us. The situation we’re in today will be 10 times worse if there’s a coup.”
Mahama’s rant The former President John Mahama has in an open letter to President Nana Akufo-Addo condemned what he described as “growing criminalisation of speech and journalism in Ghana.”
Mahama’s comment is coming a day after the arrest of Kwabena Bobie Ansah, a presenter with Accra FM – a radio station affiliated with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Mahama’s open letter, which was posted on Facebook said: “This is a dangerous blueprint you are fashioning for our dear nation and it must not be encouraged. Your actions as President have totally discredited your self-acquired accolade as a human rights lawyer and activist. Ghana has long emerged from the unfortunate past where journalists were cowed by incarceration and brutalization.
“I fear that if you do not take immediate action to arrest this unfortunate trend, when you exit the high office of President in January 2025, freedom of speech and free media will certainly not be counted as part of the legacy you leave behind.”
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