BY Nadia Ntiamoah
The improved standing on the 2026 World Press Freedom Index has been acknowledged as a step forward, but the Media Research Institute (MRi) insists the progress falls short of the country’s potential and long-standing reputation as a leader in democratic governance and media freedom in Africa.
According to the latest rankings released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Ghana climbed 13 places globally—from 52nd in 2025 to 39th in 2026.
The country also improved its position on the African continent, moving up to sixth place. While these gains have been widely welcomed, MRi argues that the improvement, though positive, is not substantial enough to be considered impressive.
In a statement marking World Press Freedom Day 2026, the Institute noted that the overall score rose modestly from 67.13 in 2025 to 72.20 in 2026, representing a 5.07 percentage increase.
MRi maintains that while the numerical jump in ranking is encouraging, the underlying score improvement does not reflect a significant leap in press freedom conditions.
A closer analysis of the index, MRi explained, reveals mixed performance across key indicators. Ghana performed relatively well in the political and legal categories, ranking 29th in both.
However, the country lagged behind in other critical areas, including economic (50th), social (49th), and security (60th) indicators—factors that collectively shape the operating environment for journalists.
The Institute emphasised that the progress must be viewed within a broader context, warning that the country is not yet free from challenges affecting press freedom. It urged stakeholders to avoid complacency and instead focus on consolidating the modest gains achieved while addressing persistent gaps.
MRi specifically cautioned government authorities against the misuse of legal frameworks to suppress media freedoms, stressing that any attempt to “weaponise” the law could undermine democratic principles and reverse recent progress.
