Civil Society and the Struggle Against Media Freedom Violations in Ghana

Abstract

ABSTRACT Per the recent rankings of Reporters Without Borders, media freedom in Ghana has been declining as a result of consistent and systematic harassment, physical abuses and even murder of journalists. For years, the literature has been aloof on the question of whether the civil society has been playing its constitutionally assigned duties of protecting the fourth estate. Using data from key informant interviews and within the lens of the libertarian theory of civil society, this study concludes that years of advocacy, activism and legal support for media personnel have cemented the role of civil society in Ghana not just as a protector of media freedom but also as an important vanguard against harassment, unfair prosecution and detention, physical assaults and even murder of journalists. Despite all the efforts from civil society organizations, violations of media freedom still occur frequently while civil society itself faces obstacles ranging from financial problems to media partisanship. This calls for financial and moral support from citizens and other independent organizations and more escalatory actions from the media and civil society such as the recent media blackout of politicians and public officials deemed as perpetrators.