Social Analyst, Ayam Fidelis Atura, has warned that the growing political ownership of media houses in Ghana is fueling a culture of self-censorship among journalists and threatening the independence of the press.
Speaking in an interview on Daybreak Upper East, Mr. Atura said while Ghana’s constitution guarantees press freedom, the reality is that journalists are increasingly forced to tailor their reports to suit the interests of their employers, many of whom are aligned with political parties.
“The majority of the media houses set up in Ghana are owned by politically inclined people. Journalists find it difficult to express themselves freely because their employers’ business interests are at stake,” he explained.
According to him, this trend has left many journalists cautious about what they say on air or publish in print, fearing intimidation, costly legal battles, or outright dismissal. The result, he noted, is a muted press that cannot fully hold power to account.
Mr. Atura argued that the situation has wider implications for Ghana’s democracy.
“When journalists avoid certain issues, citizens are denied the critical information they need to make informed decisions. That is dangerous for governance,” he cautioned.
As a solution, the analyst proposed alternative financing models to shield media houses from political control.
“One way is to look at subscription-based programming, where audiences fund the independence of the media. If media houses rely less on political financiers, journalists will be freer to do their work,” he suggested.
Despite the challenges, Mr. Atura acknowledged that Ghana has made progress in media freedom compared to past decades. However, he stressed that stronger protections are needed to ensure independent journalism thrives.
“It is not wrong to criticize or disagree with someone’s opinion. What is wrong is to destroy their character. We must encourage constructive debate and protect journalists from political intimidation,” he emphasized.
The concerns mirror findings in the 2024 U.S. State Department human rights report on Ghana, which highlighted self-censorship as a growing obstacle to free expression among both academics and media practitioners.
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