Mahama assures journalists: “I will guarantee freedom of the press if I am elected.”

The presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama, has promised to ensure the freedom of journalists in carrying out their work.

Former President Mahama stressed the crucial role of journalists in the country, lamented the current challenges facing Ghanaian journalists and promised to improve the situation when he returns to power.

“The best thing you can give the media is to give them freedom to do their job. Unfortunately, that has not happened under this government. Media people have been hunted down, some have fled into exile, some have been threatened, their lives have been threatened and some have actually paid the ultimate price, like Ahmed Suale,” the former president recalled.

The former president said he would work to minimize the dangers faced by journalists.

“You can trust that as a member of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), I am not the type of person who would instigate the media. One gift I can give you is the freedom to do your work without anyone intimidating and bullying you,” Mahama promised.

According to the World Press Index 2024, Ghana ranks 62nd out of 180 countries. The situation of press freedom in the country is described as “problematic”.