Ghana is one of the African countries that most respect press freedom. The news media are able to operate freely despite isolated threats and harassment from individuals or local political leaders.
Press freedom violations fell sharply in 2003 in Ghana. There was no repetition of the violence between rival clans that convulsed northern Ghana and led to physical attacks against journalists in 2002. Ghana has become a centre of stability in a region shaken by the crisis in C?te d’Ivoire. Free expression benefited from this stability.
However, as is the case every year, the Ghanaian news media were guilty of many excesses. On 1 April (April Fool’s Day), for example, newspapers made up such news stories as the new education minister’s resignation and an armed attack on a radio station, prompting heated criticism from civil society organisations.
Source: GhanaWeb
