The General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Dominic Hlordze, has urged Parliament to consider introducing a specific defamation law to address what he describes as growing uncertainty within Ghana’s media and justice systems.
Mr Hlordze believes the lack of a clearly defined legal framework has left journalists exposed to lawsuits while creating challenges for media practitioners, courts and individuals seeking legal redress in defamation-related matters.
Speaking on JoyNews during a discussion on defamation cases involving journalists, he argued that Ghana’s current dependence on common law principles is not enough to provide the clarity needed to guide decisions on such cases.
He said a dedicated defamation law would establish clear rules for journalists, define the rights of persons who believe they have been wronged and provide courts with consistent standards when handling disputes.
“Those of us in the media have issues. Those in the judiciary, in court. So that will guide how all of us in the ecosystem will be able to navigate around it. As we don’t have it, it is not helping us,” he said.
The GJA executive explained that without legislation specifically addressing defamation, judges are left to rely on previous court decisions and common law principles when determining cases.
According to him, a statutory law would bring greater certainty by outlining what amounts to defamation, the protections available to journalists, possible remedies for complainants and the consequences for those found liable.
“If you have that, it will guide everyone as to what to do, what not to do, and how people are punished, how people are allowed to go without punishment,” he stated.
Mr Hlordze noted that achieving such reform would require sustained engagement with Parliament and other stakeholders, adding that recognising the legal gap alone would not be enough to trigger changes.
His comments come at a time when concerns continue to grow within the GJA over the rising number of defamation and contempt cases involving media professionals and organisations.
He previously revealed that more than 15 cases are currently before the courts, with several others not receiving public attention. He added that he is personally offering legal support in 15 of those matters.
Legal practitioners who joined the same discussion also raised concerns about the impact of the absence of a dedicated defamation law, arguing that it has contributed to the growing use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP suits).
They explained that such legal actions are sometimes used by influential individuals to place financial and legal pressure on journalists, potentially discouraging investigations and public-interest reporting.
The experts further noted that limited financial resources among journalists, combined with the absence of clear statutory protections, have made some forms of investigative journalism more vulnerable to legal challenges.
While pushing for legislative change, Mr Hlordze stressed that journalists must continue to maintain professional standards and follow the GJA Code of Ethics, insisting that responsible journalism remains the best protection against unnecessary legal battles.
