BY Daniel Bampoe
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has renewed calls for justice for slain investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale and urged the government to protect press freedom by ensuring that emerging legislation — including the Misinformation, Disinformation, Hate Speech and Publication of Offensive Materials Bill (MDHI Bill) 2025 and the Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill 2025 — do not become tools of censorship and intimidation.
Speaking at a news conference at the Ghana International Press Centre on Monday, November 3, 2025, to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, GJA President Albert Dwumfour underscored the urgent need for Ghana to guarantee the safety of journalists both online and offline.
The day, observed annually on November 2 under a United Nations General Assembly resolution adopted in 2013, commemorates two French journalists killed in Mali and serves as a global reminder of the dangers faced by media practitioners.
Dwumfour emphasized that the commemoration remains deeply relevant in Ghana, where journalists have frequently suffered physical assaults, cyber harassment, and intimidation in recent years.
He cited the unresolved 2019 murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale as one of the darkest episodes in the nation’s media history — a case that continues to stain Ghana’s image as a champion of press freedom.
The GJA President expressed outrage over the recent decision of the Attorney-General’s Department to discontinue prosecution against a suspect in Suale’s murder case, leading to the suspect’s discharge by the Madina District Court on October 14, 2025.
According to him, the decision “raises serious questions about the State’s commitment and capacity to pursue justice for slain journalists.”
The Association demanded full disclosure from the Attorney-General’s Department on the reasons for abandoning the case and called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to provide an update on investigations.
The GJA also appealed to President John Dramani Mahama, as Commander-in-Chief, to personally intervene to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Dwumfour warned that justice delayed is justice denied, insisting that the failure to resolve Suale’s murder “risks deepening public distrust in the justice system and emboldening those who attack journalists.”
13 Journalists attacked
Data compiled by the GJA revealed that 13 attacks on journalists have been recorded nationwide between January and October 2025, a reduction from previous years.
The decline, Dwumfour said, is due to intensified advocacy and collaboration between the GJA, the Ghana Police Service, and the Ghana Armed Forces.
He, however, stressed that even one attack is unacceptable, reiterating that “journalism is not a crime.” He urged continued vigilance and education to ensure that Ghana eventually records zero attacks on journalists.
GJA Rejects Restrictive MDHI Bill 2025
The Association voiced strong opposition to the proposed Misinformation, Disinformation, Hate Speech and Publication of Offensive Materials Bill (MDHI Bill) 2025, describing it as a potential threat to freedom of expression and media independence.
While acknowledging the dangers of misinformation and hate speech, the GJA argued that the bill, as currently drafted, lacked transparency and stakeholder consultation. “A law that may affect press freedom should never be conceived or enacted behind closed doors or under pressure of time,” Dwumfour declared.
The GJA demanded:
1. An extension of the consultation deadline by at least three months;
2. Nationwide stakeholder forums involving media associations, civil society, academia, and legal experts;
3. A joint technical working group to harmonize stakeholder input; and
4. Explicit safeguards to prevent the misuse of the bill for censorship.
The Association maintained that while ethical journalism must counter fake news and hate speech, any legal framework must uphold Ghana’s constitutional freedoms and the public’s right to know.
