‘Journalists are not enemies of the state’ – Dwumfour urges respect for press freedom

President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Dwumfour, has called for greater respect for press freedom, insisting that journalists are not enemies of the state amid persistent attacks and harassment of media practitioners.

Speaking at the 30th GJA Media Awards in Accra, he said the Association had recorded more than 50 incidents involving attacks, arrests and harassment of journalists between 2022 and January 2026.

“Journalists are not enemies of the state,” he stated.

Mr Dwumfour said Ghana's progress in international press freedom rankings should not overshadow the challenges journalists continue to face in carrying out their work.

He argued that the true measure of press freedom goes beyond a country's position on an international index to whether journalists can hold powerful institutions accountable without intimidation.

“The true measure of press freedom is not merely where a country ranks internationally, but whether journalists can investigate corruption, question public officials, report on security operations, and hold powerful institutions accountable without intimidation or fear,” he said.

The GJA President called for sustained action to address challenges affecting journalists, including safety concerns, economic insecurity, media independence and professional development.

He said the Association's responsibility was to consolidate the gains made in press freedom while ensuring that persistent threats to journalists were addressed.

“Our responsibility is to consolidate the gains and address persistent challenges,” he stated.

Ghana moved from 52nd in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index to 39th in the 2026 edition, according to figures cited by Mr Dwumfour at the event.

However, the GJA says the reported incidents of attacks and harassment underline the need for continued efforts to protect journalists and safeguard media independence.