GJA Raises Alarm Over Defamation Suits Being Used to Gag Journalists in Ghana

The General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Dominic Hlordze, has sounded a strong warning over what he describes as a deliberate and growing misuse of defamation lawsuits to intimidate journalists across Ghana. Speaking on JoyNews, Mr Hlordze said influential individuals and institutions are increasingly turning to the courts not to seek genuine redress, but to financially and psychologically crush reporters who dare to hold them accountable.

According to Mr Hlordze, the tactic is calculated — with complainants specifically targeting journalists they believe cannot afford prolonged legal battles. "The person realises that the journalist hasn't got what it takes to meet me in court. And so he runs to court to put you down," he said. He added that journalists already stretched by the demands of daily reporting are now being forced to divide their time between the field and the courtroom, severely undermining the quality of their work.

The GJA General Secretary disclosed that more than 15 defamation and related cases are currently pending against journalists and media organisations in Ghana, with many more going unreported. He revealed that he is personally providing legal representation in 15 of those cases. He warned that the surge in litigation is taking a particularly heavy toll on investigative journalism, describing it as "the lifeblood of journalism" and expressing concern that some experienced investigative reporters have effectively been pushed out of active fieldwork as a result.

Right of Rejoinder Overlooked

Mr Hlordze appealed to both journalists and aggrieved parties to make fuller use of the right of rejoinder — a mechanism that entitles individuals or institutions who feel misrepresented to submit a formal response, which media organisations are obligated to publish. He cited a past example involving a former Attorney General who used a rejoinder to address a disputed story in the Graphic newspaper, with the matter resolved without any court action. He cautioned, however, that media houses which ignore rejoinder requests effectively invite litigation by leaving complainants with no alternative.

Ethics Compliance as a Shield

The GJA boss urged journalists to strictly follow the Association's Code of Ethics, noting that GJA research shows nearly 40 per cent of the Code's provisions overlap with existing Ghanaian law. He argued that strict adherence to professional standards would dramatically reduce journalists' legal exposure. At the same time, he drew a firm distinction between lawsuits arising from genuine journalistic errors and those filed purely to suppress public-interest reporting. "When you do that, you are in a way silencing journalism. You are trying to gag us," he said.

Mr Hlordze also expressed concern about the long-term chilling effect the trend is having on younger journalists, who may grow reluctant to pursue accountability and investigative reporting for fear of ending up in costly legal disputes. The GJA has signalled that it will continue to monitor the situation and support affected members.