The Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Shamima Muslim has made an intriguing statement about press freedom in Ghana’s democracy, stating that once the press is oppressed then nobody including investors would feel safe to do business in the country.
Her perspective is in limelight of the state of press freedom and justice for journalists in Ghana concerning the death of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale.
“When your press freedom index is really poor, it affects a lot of things. Even your business climate.”
According to Shamima, justice remains elusive for many journalists in Ghana due to systemic failures, particularly within the judiciary. She emphasized that impunity against journalists persists because the judicial system often fails to act swiftly and effectively.
She referenced reports from international bodies such as UNESCO and local organizations like the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) to highlight the worrying trend of unresolved cases involving journalist attacks.
“For example, they have a recent report that they published in 2020. It was between December 2019 to 2020. And they reported 79 violations against journalists. More than half remain unresolved. Many of them at the courts are yet to be resolved.”
Shamima stressed that when cases of violations against journalists remain unresolved, perpetrators feel emboldened. She added that delays in judicial processes make justice expensive and frustrating, ultimately discouraging journalists and media houses from seeking legal redress.
She pointed out that powerful political and business figures often manipulate the justice system to suppress journalists.
“It’s always a power struggle. You would always find that contest between big business and big politics. Big politicians who seem to have their tentacles very wide and far.”
“As a lone journalist, without the resources or the influence of the people you’re seeking justice from, [such] justice never comes. Because it’s expensive. It’s delayed beyond reasonable limits.”
The Role of Security Agencies in Suppressing Press Freedom:
Another significant challenge highlighted by Shamima is the role of security agencies in undermining press freedom.
“There are matters in court involving security agencies who also overreached their minimum force rule and ensured that they abused some citizens and some journalists.”
She argued that when the police, who are responsible for prosecuting criminal cases, are themselves accused of misconduct, the chances of justice being served become even slimmer. She said.”
“You and I know that there will be some real gerrymandering to stretch the process to the point of non-resolution.”
Shamima underscored the broader implications of a weakened press, emphasizing that poor press freedom ratings affect Ghana’s economy and international reputation.
She explained that investors closely monitor the state of press freedom before committing to a country’s economy. A government that suppresses journalists may also be seen as likely to mistreat businesses.
Additionally, she warned that a weak press weakens citizen participation in governance, as people lose their primary channel for holding the government accountable.
While advocating for press freedom, Shamima also called for greater public awareness regarding misinformation, disinformation, and fake news.
“All these actors can become agents of fake news. Politicians, security agencies, citizens, even media can become agents of the dissemination of fake news and misinformation.”
“Misinformation may not be fueled with malice because maybe people just didn’t have the full benefit of the facts. But disinformation and fake news are fueled by malice. It is deliberate.”
As an example, Shamima revealed that she had recently been a victim of fake news, with false statements attributed to her in an attempt to damage her reputation.
She urged Ghanaians to be more critical of the information they consume and share, warning that fake news could further undermine press freedom and democracy.
Shamima concluded by calling for a national dialogue involving the judiciary, security agencies, politicians, and the media to address the challenges facing press freedom in Ghana.
“We must see the interconnectedness of a greater environment of freedom of expression because when the press is free, it is also an indicator of how free the society is.”
“The press is like the fulcrum through which citizens represent their voices. If they are being oppressed, who else will speak for the people?”
Her message serves as a strong reminder that press freedom is not just a media issue but a fundamental pillar of democracy that affects every aspect of national development.