The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has expressed concern over the recent invitation and interrogation of a journalist by National Security operatives, citing a worrying trend of intimidation and erosion of media freedom in Ghana.
According to Sulemana Braimah, Executive Secretary of MFWA, Prosper Agbenyega, Editor of Current Issues Newspaper, was questioned by National Security on Monday, April 7, over a publication about leaked documents on the transportation of ECG containers. The incident has sparked a heated debate about the role of National Security and the limits of its powers.
“National Security Secretariat should not become a media tribunal,” Mr. Braimah said, emphasizing the need for a clear separation of powers. “Yesterday, I read with shock that National Security had invited a journalist, Prosper Agbeyega, for questioning over a story he had published in his digital outlet called Current Issues. When I first read the story, I didn’t believe it because it sounded so weird. So I became more alarmed when the journalist confirmed that he had indeed been invited and questioned about his story.”
The publication in question relates to a matter of significant national interest, with many Ghanaians calling for greater transparency and accountability over the ECG container issue. Mr. Braimah argued that the media plays a crucial role in holding those in power accountable and that National Security’s actions could be seen as an attempt to stifle critical reporting.
“The said story was about a leaked document from National Security on the transportation of some ECG containers, which has become and should remain a matter of significant national interest. In fact, the ECG containers issue deserves serious focus and scrutiny by all media houses. Ghanaians deserve to know what happened under the previous government and what is happening under the current government,” Mr. Braimah said.
The MFWA executive secretary emphasized that the current government’s “Resetting Ghana” agenda should prioritize transparency, accountability, and the protection of media freedom. He expressed concerns that National Security’s actions could undermine these efforts and create a culture of fear and self-censorship among journalists.
“Let it be clear that the current government’s Resetting Ghana agenda should not and cannot be about intimidation of journalists or citizens through National Security. The job of National Security does not include questioning journalists about their sources or preaching to journalists on how they should do their stories,” he said.
Mr. Braimah also highlighted the existence of clear constitutional mechanisms for addressing concerns about journalists’ work, which do not involve National Security questioning and intimidation.
“There are clear constitutional mechanisms for addressing any misgivings about the work of journalists or media organisations. Those mechanisms do not include questioning and intimidation of journalists by National Security,” he said.
In light of the incident, Mr. Braimah called on the media and journalists to remain bold, professional, and committed to holding the government accountable to the people of Ghana.
“I urge our media and journalists to remain bold, professional and committed to holding the government accountable to the people of Ghana as required by the Constitution of Ghana. Let no overzealous National Security officials think that journalists can be intimidated to become cheerleaders of the government,” Mr. Braimah concluded.