The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is calling on media owners and managers to take a more active and deliberate role in defending their journalists against the rising wave of attacks.
According to Dora Baah, the Foundation’s Freedom of Expression Officer, the increasing trend of assaults on journalists requires more than condemnation—it demands bold leadership and legal pursuit by those who employ and benefit from the work of journalists.
She stressed that media owners must commit to seeing justice served for their assaulted staff, especially in cases where journalists lack the resources to pursue cases alone.
Baah, speaking to ABC News GH, noted that some journalists are left to fight their legal battles unaided, which ultimately discourages them from seeking justice.
“We need media owners and managers who are committed to fighting for justice for their journalists,” she said, urging leadership in the media industry to take intentional steps—from financing legal representation to demanding accountability from authorities.
“Sometimes the fight in court becomes a hustle,” she added, highlighting the need for proactive support.
Her call comes against the backdrop of a disturbing rise in attacks on journalists in Ghana. From January to July 2025 alone, 13 journalists have been assaulted in five separate incidents.
The most recent case involved JoyNews reporter Carlos Calony, who was violently attacked and briefly detained by individuals believed to be National Security operatives during a live broadcast on Spintex Road.
Dora Baah believes the number is even higher if one includes cameramen and other media crew members often overlooked in the statistics.
Baah also emphasized the importance of internal media house training, urging media organizations to “step up the security training we give to our journalists.”
As the demand for real-time coverage of national events increases, journalists are being exposed to riskier conditions, making it imperative for their employers to equip them with both protective knowledge and tools.
