We must consolidate our ranking on World Press Freedom Index - GJA

Ghana’s position on the World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders has seen some marginal improvement over the 2023 performance.

Eastern Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association, Maxwell Kudekor says the movement from the 62nd position to the 50th position is a good one and can be attributed to the concerted effort by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Ministry of Information under the leadership of the then Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, and other partners.

Over the last two years, the Ministry of Information and the GJA have undertaken several Media Support Programs aimed at changing the narrative.

He said the coordinated mechanism for the safety of journalists, the
The Media Capacity Enhancement program, the efforts to contain egregious media content by the National Media Commission and National Communication Authority, the advocacy for improved remuneration of Ghanaian media, and campaigns to combat misinformation and disinformation have contributed to the improvement we’re seeing this year.

Further, the support for international media agencies to locate in Ghana among other interventions are worth mentioning.

According to him, we shouldn't rejoice and fall back. Rather, we must continue to invest in these deliberate programs to sustain the results, adding that we need a more collaborative effort to get to the top again.

Maxwell Kudekor disclosed to the media that, the association will continue to stand firm and protect the interest of the Ghanaian media and freedom of expression as guaranteed by the 1992 constitution of Ghana including taking actions not limited to boycotts as has been done in the past.