Find Media and Broadcasting expertise in Ghana
- Broadcasting
Ghana is generally recognised by independent observers as a country with an unfettered freedom of expression and media. The top three daily newspapers in terms of circulation are the Daily Graphic, Daily Guide and The Chronicle (2012). The most prosperous news organisation is Graphic Corporation, followed by Times Corporation, both of which are funded by the state. Other main daily papers include The Ghanaian Times, Accra Daily Mail and The Enquirer. The weekly publications include The Mirror, The Independent, Ghana Palaver and The Sunday Herald. In response to the privatisation of the economy and opening up to global markets, there has been growing interest in papers specialising in economic matters, notably The Business Chronicle, Business and Financial Concord, Business and Financial Times, Business Eye and Financial Guardian.
A few of the independent papers regularly include coverage of regional news, with The Ghanaian Chronicle maintaining regional offices in Cape Coast, Kumasi, Takoradi, Koforidua and Ho, and The Independent reporting from its regional office in Kumasi. Private newspapers are predominantly produced in Accra and circulation is also concentrated there, although the major independents are also commonly found in Cape Coast, Kumasi and Tamale.
The price prevents much of the urban working and rural population from purchasing newspapers, but, despite this, papers are a ubiquitous feature of everyday life in urban Ghana. The display of current newspapers in kiosks and markets attracts much debate, and newspapers are often read aloud on public transport and passed through many different hands, relaying news of current events to a wide network.
Freedom of expression is constitutionally guaranteed and generally respected. The media has played an important role in keeping pressure on the government to combat corruption, according to a Freedom House report in 2011. Ghana was given a media freedom ranking of ‘free’, compared to the 5% free press ranking overall in sub-Saharan Africa (Freedom House, 2011).
The Ghana Journalist Association is the professional industry body for journalists, and aims to bring media practitioners together for programmes, lectures and workshops designed to promote press freedom and professionalism. The National Media Commission is the only constitutional regulatory body that maintains professional conduct of journalists.
On the media sustainability index, Ghana scores between 2 and 3 which means the country meets free conditions and has survived changes in government, but more time is needed to ensure that ‘change is enduring’.
