The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is calling for a renewed partnership between the media and Ghana’s security agencies as concerns grow over rising attacks on journalists. According to Dora Boamah Mawutor, Programmes Director for Freedom of Expression and Digital Rights, the current tensions between the two groups threaten press freedom and weaken democratic governance.
Her appeal was made at a media–security dialogue in Tamale, which convened journalists, security officials, media owners, civil society actors, and scholars from the Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East, and Upper West Regions. The event was organised by MFWA in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), GIBA, GCRN, and PRINPAG, with support from several international development partners, including the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union, SECO, and GIZ.
During the dialogue, journalists recounted incidents of intimidation, assault, and obstruction experienced while carrying out their duties. These testimonies, Madam Mawutor noted, demonstrate how violations—sometimes involving security personnel—damage not only the individuals affected but also the credibility of institutions tasked with safeguarding rights. She warned that repeated abuses erode civic space, weaken public trust, and undermine Ghana’s reputation as a regional leader in press freedom.
Madam Mawutor stressed the need for clear sanctions to deter future violations, arguing that impunity has allowed these attacks to persist. She highlighted that both journalists and security officers serve crucial roles in Ghana’s democratic journey, and that mutual respect must guide their interactions.
“The progress we seek as a nation becomes possible only when journalists can operate without fear and security agencies act with professionalism and respect for human rights,” she said. She added that the Tamale session forms part of a broader effort to rebuild confidence and develop practical, long-term measures to protect media workers.
Contributing to the discussion, Dr. Gilbert Tietaah, a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Communication, emphasised that journalist safety is fundamental to accountability and transparency. Without an environment free from threats, he said, the media cannot fulfil its mandate to serve the public interest.
The Northern Regional Chairman of the GJA, Yakubu Abdul-Majeed, also called for enhanced safety protocols, particularly for reporters assigned to conflict-prone areas or politically sensitive stories. He urged security agencies to consider journalists as partners in national development and encouraged media practitioners to maintain high standards of ethical conduct.
Participants concluded the dialogue with a shared commitment to continued cooperation, open communication, and the creation of joint accountability systems aimed at protecting journalists while supporting security agencies to perform their duties effectively.
