Since President John Dramani Mahama took office in January 2025, at least 17 journalists have been attacked in eight separate incidents in Ghana – almost without consequences for those responsible. This emerges from a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international organisation dedicated to defending press freedom.

According to the report, the attackers included police officers, firefighters and soldiers, as well as illegal gold miners and unidentified individuals. Most of those affected were reporters covering local elections, a market fire or illegal mining. Several of them said they had clearly identified themselves as members of the press – for instance through vests marked "Press" or press cards.

Mahama, himself a former journalist, had pledged "an era of true media freedom" on taking office and announced that attacks on the press would be pursued "as firmly as possible". In practice, however, the vast majority of cases have so far gone unresolved. In only one instance was there a tangible outcome: a court ordered illegal miners to compensate a reporter for damage to his equipment.

Many of those affected report that they heard nothing further from the authorities after filing their complaints. "We need justice. We are not safe," the report quotes one of the journalists attacked.