GJA President warns against complacency despite Ghana’s improved press freedom ranking
President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Dwumfour, has cautioned against complacency following Ghana’s rise to 39th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index. He said the improved ranking should not overshadow persistent challenges facing journalists, including safety concerns, economic insecurity, threats to media independence and the need for professional…
Albert Dwumfour, President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has cautioned against complacency following Ghana’s rise to 39th place out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index. Despite this improvement, ranking 4th in Africa and moving up from 52nd in 2025 to 39th in 2026, Dwumfour emphasized the need to remain vigilant about the challenges faced by journalists.
Speaking at the 30th GJA Media Awards in Accra, Dwumfour highlighted ongoing issues such as safety concerns, economic insecurity, threats to media independence, and the need for professional development. The improvement in Ghana's ranking from 2025 (62nd) to 2026 (39th) can be attributed to sustained advocacy, institutional commitment, and engagement among stakeholders, Dwumfour explained.
However, he stressed that the true measure of press freedom extends beyond international rankings. "The true measure of press freedom is not merely where a country ranks internationally, but whether journalists can investigate corruption, question public officials, report on security operations, and hold powerful institutions accountable without intimidation or fear," he stated.
Dwumfour urged all stakeholders to capitalize on these gains while addressing the persistent challenges that continue to impact journalists and media organizations. "Our responsibility is to consolidate the gains and address persistent challenges including journalist safety, economic insecurity, media independence, and professional development," he added.
Dwumfour expressed optimism about Ghana's potential to climb further in the upcoming index, aiming to reach among the top three countries. "Our ambition must be to make Ghana a leading example of press freedom and democratic expression in Africa. We are praying that come next year we will improve on our position and take our ranking position between first and third, God willing," he concluded.
The World Press Freedom Index, published annually by Reporters Without Borders, evaluates the state of press freedom across 180 countries and territories.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
