Media practitioners, academics, editors, newsroom managers, and representatives of media associations have begun work on developing a Model Safety Policy for news media organisations in Ghana following growing concerns about the safety and protection of journalists.
The initiative was the focus of a brainstorming session held on May 28, 2026, as part of efforts to create a comprehensive framework that media organisations can adopt to safeguard journalists and media workers.
The discussions were informed by findings from a nationwide study on existing safety policies, mechanisms, and practices within Ghanaian newsrooms. The study revealed that most media organisations lack formal and structured safety policies, leaving journalists to depend largely on informal and often inconsistent safety practices while operating in increasingly hostile and polarised environments.
The findings also identified significant gaps in awareness, implementation of safety protocols, and coordination among key stakeholders responsible for promoting media safety and press freedom.
Participants at the brainstorming session reflected on the challenges confronting journalists and explored practical measures to improve newsroom safety, risk management, emergency response systems, digital security, mental health support, and institutional accountability. The engagement also sought to establish minimum safety standards that can be adapted and implemented across media organisations in the country.
The proposed Model Safety Policy is expected to serve as a guide for newsrooms, helping them create safer working environments for journalists while strengthening professional standards and press freedom.
The initiative forms part of the project, Countering Corruption through Accountability Journalism and an Improved Freedom of Expression Environment in Ghana, under the Participation, Accountability, Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) Programme.
The PAIReD Programme is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, co-financed by the European Union in Ghana and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, and implemented by GIZ Ghana in partnership with the Ministry of Finance.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that the development and adoption of a national model safety policy will help enhance the protection of journalists, promote media independence, and contribute to a more enabling environment for freedom of expression and accountability journalism in Ghana.
