SECTOR 2 2.3 The editorial independence of print media published by a public authority is protected adequately against undue political interference. In terms of Article 162 (4) of the Constitution, “(4) Editors and publishers of newspapers and other institutions of the mass media shall not be subject to control or interference by Government, not shall they be penalised or harassed for their editorial opinions and views, or the content of their publications.” There is no legislation that gives government the ability or authority to interfere in the operations of the media. Of course, as an interest group, the government has the right (and duty) to disseminate information, but is prohibited from applying undue interference in the media. For the most part, print media by the state, including the Daily Graphic, The Ghanaian Times, The Mirror and the Weekly Spectator, appear to be free of political interference. “If I read the state-owned media, there doesn’t seem to be any interference because they carry critical stories.” “With the stories that they are able to cover, it doesn’t show any sense of fear. They keep to the facts and stay with the story.” There have, however, been incidences of undue interference, and “editors sometimes receive calls to do an editorial or to give prominence to certain stories.” A panellist recounted an incident where a state-newspaper editor, who was summoned to State House and told not to carry certain stories, was moved to a position where he would not be able to determine editorial content, because he had refused to follow these orders. 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: 4.2 (2006: 3.6; 2008: 4.6; 2011: 3.7) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER GHANA 2013 31