The recent harassment and intimidation of journalists by state security agents has drawn harsh criticism from the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), which warns that such behavior is incompatible with Ghana’s democratic values.
PRINPAG expressed concern in a news release on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, over what it described as a “worrying pattern” of state organizations, such as the National Security Secretariat and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), calling journalists under false pretenses for their official duties.
“Ghana has long been a beacon of press freedom in Africa, and these acts of coercion against journalists are unacceptable in a democracy,” the association declared.
The organization emphasized two recent events: the National Security Secretariat’s questioning of Prosper Agbenyega of the Current Issues daily and the OSP’s summons of Gordon Asare-Bediako of ABC News.
According to reports, both journalists were detained for hours without access to legal counsel; PRINPAG denounced this action as unlawful.
“Denying journalists access to their lawyers during questioning is a blatant violation of their rights and an attack on media freedom,” the statement stated.
PRINPAG urged state entities to stop making arbitrary detentions and to resolve complaints about media coverage through legal channels like the courts or the National Media Commission.
Five main demands were listed by the association:
- Condemnation of the OSP and National Security’s actions.
- Respect for constitutional rights of journalists.
- Use legal channels for disputes, not intimidation.
- Encouragement for journalists to remain resolute in their duties.
- Commitment to ethical journalism while safeguarding press freedom.
PRINPAG stressed that a free press is essential to democracy and called on individuals, civil society, and the international community to oppose media repression.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to upholding media freedom in Ghana and pledged to take legal action if required to shield journalists from illegal harassment.
Source: newsthemegh.com