SECTOR 2

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:

2.7 (2008: 2.4; 2006: 1.2)

2.4
The editorial independence of print media
published by a public authority is protected adequately
against undue political interference.
Print media published by a public authority are the state-owned Daily Graphic,
The Ghanaian Times, the weeklies The Mirror and Weekly Spectator as well as the
Ghanaian News Agency.
The 1992 Constitution in article 167 (c) accords the National Media Commission
the mandate “to insulate the state-owned media from government control”, and in
article 168 makes the commission responsible for appointing the boards:
The Commission shall appoint the chairmen and other members of the
governing bodies of public corporations managing the state-owned media
in consultation with the President.
The selection of board members is done on the basis of nominations solicited from
organisations represented on the NMC. Although the scope of groups involved
in the process (listed under indicator 1.1) is limited, it is regarded as being quite
representative of society as a whole. The president plays a dual role: being able to
nominate candidates through his/her representative on the commission, as well as
having to be consulted on the final selection. Experience so far, however, indicates
that the NMC acts independently from the president evidenced by the fact that
his nominees have been rejected on several occasions.
According to article 169 the boards appoint the editors of these media in
consultation with the Public Services Commission.

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER GHANA 2011

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