By Sarah Baafi
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has criticised what it describes as increasing police involvement in media-related matters, warning that such actions risk undermining press freedom in Ghana.
At a press briefing held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at the Ghana International Press Centre, the association raised concerns over the interrogation of journalists by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service over alleged false publications.
According to the GJA, affected journalists were subjected to prolonged questioning, asked to respond to unsubstantiated allegations, and in some cases pressured to disclose confidential sources moves the Association says undermine both due process and the core principles of journalism.
It is against this backdrop that GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour delivered a blunt message to public officials.
“If you cannot stand criticism or the temperature of the media, then stay out of public service,” he declared.
He argued that public officeholders, whose salaries are funded by taxpayers, must expect scrutiny and accountability, adding that attempts to use state institutions to suppress criticism are unacceptable in a democratic society.
He warned that what it describes as a “growing pattern” of police involvement in media-related disputes risks creating fear within the profession and could erode the independence of the press.
The Association further criticised attempts to compel journalists to reveal their sources, stressing that such demands are only permissible under a court order.
It also renewed calls for reforms to laws such as the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), which it says are increasingly being used to target media practitioners.
Despite the concerns, the GJA reaffirmed its commitment to holding power to account, insisting that scrutiny and criticism are not optional in public service but essential to democratic governance.
