Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, Esq., former president of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), called for stronger accountability mechanisms and proactive measures to protect journalists during a forum in Accra titled “Ending Impunity for Crimes against Journalists in Ghana: Strengthening Safety, Accountability and Press Freedom.”
She said attacks on journalists are not merely violations of individual rights but assaults on the public’s right to information, press freedom and meaningful participation in democracy.
Afenyi-Dadzie warned that no journalist should have to lose their life before threats against them are taken seriously, noting that reporters play a critical role in exposing suspected corruption, illegal mining, environmental destruction and in questioning people in positions of authority.
She cautioned that allowing attacks to go unpunished could encourage further violence and send a dangerous message that perpetrators are beyond accountability.
The former GJA head called for investigations of threats and attacks to be conducted promptly and impartially, with perpetrators held accountable through due process.
She emphasized that protection must begin before incidents occur, urging government and law‑enforcement agencies to ensure journalists can perform their duties without unlawful interference or violence.
Institutional responsibilities
Afenyi-Dadzie urged media organisations to treat journalist safety as an institutional responsibility rather than leaving individual reporters to manage risks alone. She said newsrooms need clear procedures for risk assessment, maintaining contact with field reporters, responding to threats and providing legal support where necessary.
She also highlighted the importance of digital security and psychosocial well‑being, stressing that journalists covering sensitive or dangerous assignments should not be expected to navigate associated risks without institutional backing.
The former GJA president commended the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) for convening the forum and for its continued efforts to promote press freedom, strengthen accountability and improve journalist safety in Ghana.
She concluded that protecting journalists requires collective responsibility and sustained commitment to ensure attacks against media practitioners do not go unpunished.
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