'Media Is Not Under Siege' - Kweku Baako Comes To Akufo-Addo's Rescue

The Managing Editor of the New Crusading newspaper, Kweku Baako Jnr. has debunked claims that the “media is under siege” in Ghana.

Recent reports from some political pundits especially belonging to the opposition side have accused the Akufo-Addo led administration of frustrating the media and infringing on media freedom.

These claims increased after the National Communication Authority (NCA) closed down pro-opposition radio stations; Radio Gold and Radio XYZ.

However, contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM'sKokrokoo’ programme, Wednesday, Kweku Baako said the critics will be right in speaking against the various cases against the media, like the murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale; however, to it will be wrong to generalize that the country is unsafe for journalists.

He made this remark while discussing President Akufo-Addo’s act of assenting to the Right to Information (RTI) Act to guarantee Ghanaians the right to access public information.

"I don’t think the Ghanaian media is under siege . . . inspite of things that have happened in recent times, I don’t think the Ghanaian media is under siege. We had instances where journalists were picked left, right . . . media houses were shit-bombed . . . these were challenges and so I have no problem with people who highlight them . . . but to judge that overall the Ghanaian media is under siege I am not able to endorse that. You can highlight those things and let’s deal with it but to generalize it, I am not for that,” he indicated.

“It’s a progressive development . . . it’s a mark of progress,” he added.