Alfred Aliah credits Mahama government for Ghana’s improved press freedom ranking
Ghana’s rise in press freedom index reflects democratic gains – Alfred Aliah
A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Team for the Chiana-Paga Constituency, Alfred Aliah, has attributed Ghana’s improved performance in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index to efforts by the government of President John Dramani Mahama to strengthen democratic governance and protect media freedom.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Monday, June 8, Aliah said Ghana’s rise to 39th position globally and 4th in Africa reflects significant progress in creating an enabling environment for journalists and media organisations to operate freely.
According to him, the assessment by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is based on five key indicators: political context, legal framework, economic context, socio-cultural context, and security conditions, all of which recorded improvements for Ghana.
“These rankings are not determined arbitrarily. They are based on established criteria, including the political context, legislative framework, economic environment, socio-cultural factors, and security conditions,” he stated.
Aliah noted that Ghana’s overall score improved from 67.13 percent in 2025 to 72.2 percent in 2026, describing the increase as a clear indication of progress in the country’s democratic and media landscape.
He further highlighted the security indicator as the area that recorded the most significant improvement.
“The security indicator experienced the sharpest increase this year, rising from 78.93 to 87.10,” he said.
While acknowledging that incidents involving attacks and harassment of journalists still occur, Aliah maintained that the country’s achievements in advancing press freedom should be recognised and commended.
“I do admit that there are still a few challenges here and there. However, that does not mean the government does not deserve commendation for the progress that has been made so far,” he added.
He argued that President Mahama has consistently demonstrated a commitment to protecting media independence and safeguarding freedom of expression, which he said has contributed to the country’s improved standing.
On measures needed to sustain and improve Ghana’s performance in future rankings, Aliah called for stronger legal protections for journalists, swift investigations into attacks against media practitioners, enhanced safety training, and increased institutional support for media organisations.
“We need to strengthen legal protection mechanisms for journalists. There must be prompt investigations and prosecutions whenever journalists are abused or attacked. These measures will serve as effective deterrents and help protect media freedom,” he stressed.
Aliah expressed optimism that Ghana could attain even higher rankings in the future if government, media practitioners, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders continue to work together to uphold press freedom and democratic values.
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