World Press Freedom Report: Killing of Hussein-Suale Affects Ghana Rankings | General news

The horrific murder of investigative journalist Tiger Eye PI Ahmed Hussein Suale and police harbadment of the police have hurt Ghana's ranking in the 2019 World Press Freedom Index.

Hussein-Suale, 31, was killed earlier this year by two suspected gunmen in Madina, a suburb.

He participated in the production of survey investigation number 12 which uncovered deeply rooted corruption within the Ghana Football Federation (GFA).

The 2019 Index prepared by Reporters Without Borders shows that Ghana is gaining four places out of the 23 places occupying the 2019 edition.

The report quotes the murder of the investigative journalist and the police harbadment of journalists and women for the poor ranking of Ghana.

"A group of investigative journalists had to spend part of 2018 in hiding after making a documentary on the corruption of Ghanaian football."

According to the report, "a member of the ruling party, named in the documentary, publicly threatened one of the journalists without ever being punished. The journalist was shot in the street a few months later. Journalists are rarely arrested, but several of them have been attacked with impunity in 2018, sometimes by police officers. "

Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin Central, was the one who revealed Hussein-Suale's identity to the public after the documentary premiered.

The report notes that "although Ghana continues to be regarded as one of the most democratic countries in Africa and that Chapter 12 of its 1992 constitution guarantees pluralism and freedom. media independence, a third of the media are owned by the state or government-related businessmen. "

The report states that Namibia has restored its position of best defense of press freedom in Africa by occupying the first position on the continent.

Ghana's worst performance came in 2013 when it was ranked 30th and its best was 22nd in 2015. Norway dominated the world while Turkmenistan finished last with 180.

The RSF index, which badesses the state of journalism every year in 180 countries and territories, shows that a climate of intense fear has set in, detrimental to a safe reporting environment.

"If the political debate slips surreptitiously or openly into an atmosphere of civil war in which journalists are treated as scapegoats, democracy is in great danger," said RSF Secretary General Christophe Deloire. "Putting an end to this cycle of fear and intimidation is an extremely urgent matter for all people of good will who attach importance to the freedoms acquired during history."