Document detail

Media and COVID-19 in West Africa: Ghana, March - June

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) (2020), 7 pp.
"The media in Ghana have had relatively free space to operate even amidst the COVID-19 restrictions. The traditional legal texts and the new emergency laws adopted by the government to fight the pandemic have not been used to violate press freedom. The media have, therefore, discharged with distinction their duty of informing and educating the populace on the COVID-19. However, media professionals face a number of challenges in accessing sources of information and in getting timely access to information. Furthermore, there were few instances of abuse which need urgent redress to prevent impunity from setting in. The financial standing of media enterprises has been weakened by the general fall in economic and social activities arising out of the outbreak of the pandemic. Unfortunately, government has provided practically little support, making the media potentially vulnerable to capture by vested interests, especially as Ghana heads towards elections in December 2020." (Conclusion)
Contents
Availability and Accessibility to Information, 1
Legal & Policy Context, 3
Safety of Journalists, 4
Economic Sustainability, 5
Media Support, 6
Conclusion, 6