49 arrested during cost of living protest while the security of journalists remains a concern

Peaceful Assembly

Protests against economic hardship: dozens arrested, assaulted

On 21st September 2023, police officers arrested 49 protesters during the first day of the #OccupyJulorbiHouse (Occupy Jubilee House) protests for “unlawful assembly” and violation of the Public Order Act. Additionally, police reportedly assaulted several protesters and journalists (see also under Expression), who gathered dressed in red and black attire. The protests were set to last three days near Jubilee House, the seat of the government, over what the protesters call economic mismanagement and corruption under the administration of President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Hours before the protest was to start, the Ghana Police Service said it had filed a court application for an injunction to stop the protest from happening, and urged the public to “disregard any calls from any individuals or groups encouraging them to assemble for a demonstration at the Jubilee House” while awaiting the court’s decision. While the Police Service claimed it had served the organisers - civil society group Democracy Hub - with the application, the latter said it had not been served and therefore called people to assemble at the Jubilee House the following day, as the group had notified the police of the three-day planned protest. After the protests, on 26th September 2023, the High Court struck out the application after the Ghana Police Service reportedly withdrew it.

According to news reports, the protesters who were detained on the first day of the protest were released later that day.

On 3rd October 2023, thousands gathered on the streets in Accra to demand the resignation of the governor of the Central Bank of Ghana, Ernest Addison, whom the protesters accuse of mismanagement of the economy during the severe debt crisis in the country. The #OccupyBOG (Bank of Ghana) protest was organised by the opposition party National Democratic Congress (NDC) and originally scheduled for 12th September 2023, but delayed due to a police injunction over the planned route. On 3rd October 2023, the protest went ahead without incident, albeit with the presence of heavily armed police officers.

The economic crisis in Ghana, spiralling cost of living and a ballooning public debt over the past few years have sparked several protests across the country, including the #FixTheCountry protests in 2021 and Arise Ghana protests in June 2022.

Expression

Journalists assaulted during #OccupyJulorbiHouse protests

According to the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), police assaulted several journalists on the first day of the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protests on 21st September 2023 in Accra. For example, police officers shoved JoyNews reporter Maxwell Agbagba aside and dragged away the protester who was being interviewed by the journalist. A Metro TV journalist was reportedly also assaulted by police while covering the protest.

Journalist assaulted

On 13th October 2023, a group of individuals, believed to be supporters of certain candidates for the opposition party National Democratic Congress (NDC), physically attacked CitiFM/Citi TV journalist Akosua Otchere while she was covering the vetting process of NDC electoral candidates for the National Assembly in the Odododiodio constituency in Accra. That day, three candidates - Nii Okai Laryea, Kotey Ashie and Michael Nii Yarboi Annang – were vetted by a committee as potential candidates to replace incumbent Member of Parliament Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, who is not seeking re-election in the upcoming general elections on 7th December 2024. Violence erupted and acts of vandalism were carried out when supporters of some of these aspiring NDC candidates accused the vetting committee of unfairness, destroyed party property, including chairs and an air conditioner, and pelted stones at members of the vetting committee. Akosua Otchere was covering the incident when she was attacked by the perpetrators, who twisted her arm aggressively and snatched her phone.

On 15th October 2023, Citi FM/Citi TV management said in a statement that it had made a formal complaint to the police. The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) and the Ministry of Information also condemned the violence against Akosua Otchere.

Television station stormed during live broadcast

On 7th October 2023, a group of young supporters of the ruling party, the National Patriotic Party (NPP), stormed the studios of Accra-based television station United Television (UTV), disrupting a live broadcast of United Showbiz, an entertainment programme. The assailants said they were looking for Kwame Asare Obeng, also known as Kwame A-Plus, a regular and outspoken guest of the show, and demanded his removal for having torn up and criticised a letter from the NPP communication department in a previous episode of the show. The NPP letter to Sepite Media Group had accused the programme of inviting biased panels who criticise the government and demanded reform of the programme. In response to the letter, Kwame A-Plus tore the letter into pieces during a live broadcast while criticising the NPP for trying to subvert media independence. He also reportedly said they had been receiving threats since the letter was sent.

The police apprehended 16 individuals who had invaded the UTV studios, who were subsequently charged with conspiracy to commit crime and rioting. On 16th October 2023, the Achimota Magistrate Court sentenced each of them to a fine of 2,400 Ghanaian cedis (approximately 193 USD).

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has documented at least 14 incidents involving attacks on media houses since 2014, with only one attack having received redress.