Donkor: A Case Study of the Safety of Journalists in Ghana

Abstract

This paper argues that the safety of journalists in Ghana can no longer be taken for granted given the available evidence of physical attacks on journalists (Joint  Statement NMC et al., 2016 and MFWA, 2016). The overarching objective of the  study is to portray Donkor’s case as typical of similar cases in Ghana and beyond  and highlight the implications of attacks on journalists. In the past decade or so,  physical attacks on journalist have been the most prevalent form of violation  against  journalists in Ghana. In this paper, a single case study of Donkor is  examined together with relevant documents as the tip of an iceberg to demonstrate  and paint a picture of the harrowing and degrading experience of physical and other  forms of attacks against journalists in Ghana and its implications for safeguarding  press freedom and the fundamental human rights of people. The incidence of   attacks against journalists and how such perpetrators often go unpunished, though  not a phenomenon peculiar only to Ghana, needs an examination given the latitude  of freedom of the media guaranteed in the 1992 fourth republican Constitution of  Ghana. It is pertinent to ask: how far have stakeholders contributed to the  promotion of journalists’ safety as prescribed in UNESCO’s Safety of Journalists  Document? While chronicling some instances of actions, which tend to endanger the lives of journalists in the line of duty, the paper concludes that a concerted effort is required to enable journalists, the public, civil society organisations, international organisations and state institutions to initiate strategic actions aimed at tackling the problem.

Keywords: Press Freedom, Human Rights, Physical Attacks, Safety of Journalists, Perpetrators, Ghana