SECTOR 1 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 4.5 (2006: n/a; 2008: n/a; 2011: 5.0) 1.6 Confidential sources of information are protected by law and/or the courts. There is no specific legislation that protects confidential sources of information. However, there are no incidences on record where journalists have been compelled to reveal sources. There is a sense among journalists that they are protected by law not to disclose sources, but “they have realised that this is by the pain of imprisonment, or whatever the court imposes on you. It’s a choice you make, whether to disclose or not, and, if you don’t, it’s a risk that you take.” There is a specific provision protecting sources of information in the Whistleblower Act of 2006, but this act does not extend to the protection of the media’s sources. The media’s code of ethics could be used for persuasive effect in court in protecting confidential sources, but such codes are not binding on the court. Around the 2012 elections, with “the fear and panic issue”, the police stated that they could compel journalists to reveal their sources. In one instance, the police tried to get a journalist to reveal his source, but the said journalist refused to do so, and dared the police to take him to court (wherein one cannot be compelled to testify). “The case was dismissed at the point of preparing a charge sheet.” If such a case had been taken to court, however, “the judges would be left to determine whether the source is important or not. It would then be left to the journalist to decide whether to play hero, or disclose his source.” “When talking to young journalists, I tell them that the protection of the source makes or breaks you.” 20 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER GHANA 2013