Rising defamation suits are crippling investigative journalism in Ghana – GJA
The Ghana Journalists Association’s warning about rising defamation lawsuits crippling investigative journalism in Ghana reflects a deepening crisis in the nation’s media landscape, where legal harassment is increasingly used to silence critical reporting and erode democratic accountability.
Speaking on JoyNews, GJA General Secretary Dominic Hlordze revealed that over 15 defamation cases are currently pending against journalists and media organisations, with him personally providing legal defence in 15 of these instances. He emphasized that the financial and psychological burden of litigation forces reporters to divert scarce resources from news gathering to courtroom defence, undermining the very essence of their profession. “A lot of journalists don’t have what it takes to even go to court. So if every day they are to go to the field to get stories, they now have to go to the courts to defend themselves,” Hlordze lamented, describing how this divertive effect is eroding the quality of journalism, with investigative reporting—described as the “lifeblood of journalism”—suffering as reporters withdraw from accountability work.
The association’s alarm comes against the backdrop of a high-profile contempt case involving Larry Dogbey, editor of The Herald newspaper, who was sentenced to seven days in prison by an Accra High Court on June 25, 2026, over articles related to a legal dispute between businessman Kevin Okyere and Petraco SA. Although Dogbey was subsequently granted bail, the case has intensified debate about the boundaries of contempt law as it applies to media coverage of ongoing litigation and whether current legal frameworks adequately protect journalists reporting on matters of public interest.
Hlordze distinguished between legitimate defamation claims arising from genuine journalistic errors and strategic lawsuits designed to suppress public-interest reporting. The latter, he asserted, constitutes an abuse of legal process, as complainants often bypass available remedies like the right of rejoinder—a mechanism allowing subjects of coverage to respond directly in the same medium—in favour of litigation precisely because of its debilitating financial and emotional toll on journalists. He urged both parties to embrace the right of rejoinder, explaining that its observance fosters resolution without resorting to courts. “If you don’t publish it, what you mean is that I’m calling your bluff. Take me to court,” he said, noting that honouring this obligation prevents escalation.
Drawing on a positive example, Hlordze cited a case where a former Attorney General submitted a rejoinder to the Graphic newspaper after disagreeing with a story, leading to swift resolution without litigation. He also stressed that strict adherence to the GJA Code of Ethics could significantly reduce legal vulnerability, noting that research shows nearly 40% of its provisions overlap with existing laws, meaning ethical breaches often constitute legal violations. “All they need to do is adhere to the GJA Code of Ethics and I’m telling you they would never ever get into that problem,” he declared.
However, the GJA remains deeply concerned about the cumulative effect of such legal actions on press freedom and the future of accountability journalism in Ghana. The association warns that the chilling effect of these lawsuits may deter aspiring journalists from pursuing investigative careers, ultimately weakening the nation’s capacity for transparent governance. As Hlordze put it: “When you do that, you are in a way silencing journalism. You are trying to gag us.”
The solution, he argues, lies in a multifaceted approach: strengthening legal protections for journalists, promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms like the right of rejoinder, and fostering a culture of ethical journalism that reduces vulnerability to legal harassment. Only then can Ghana safeguard its democratic discourse and ensure that the media can fulfill its vital role as a watchdog without fear of ruinous legal consequences.
His concerns echo the association’s recent warning about [defamation suits silencing journalists](/powerful-individuals-using-defamation-suits-to-silence-journalists-gja-general-secretary/) and its call for [a dedicated defamation law to protect journalists](/gja-calls-for-dedicated-defamation-law-to-protect-journalists-and-clarify-media-litigation/) to establish clearer legal boundaries against such abuses.
