Ghanaian leaders call for enhanced journalist safety protections

Prof Amin Alhassan, Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), has urged media organizations to adopt the Model Safety of Journalists Policy to protect staff working in unsafe environments. Speaking at a launch in Accra, Alhassan noted that financial difficulties, such as the inability to maintain payrolls, contribute to unsafe working conditions. He highlighted a gap between having safety policies and possessing the logistical resources, such as drivers, to implement them effectively.

Former Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah also called for renewed efforts to strengthen protections for journalists to prevent attacks and intimidation. Speaking regarding the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Nkrumah warned that physical attacks, arrests, and detentions over alleged statements undermine press freedom and public confidence in democratic institutions. He emphasized the need for accountability, noting that the Coordinated Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists was established to ensure law enforcement responds appropriately to threats and investigations.