The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has raised concerns over what it describes as the increasing use of lawsuits to intimidate journalists and media organisations, warning that the growing trend poses a serious threat to press freedom and public interest journalism in Ghana.
The association’s concerns follow the imprisonment of Larry Alans-Dogbey, Editor of The Herald newspaper, who was sentenced to seven days in prison for contempt of court.
Alans-Dogbey, the second defendant in a civil suit filed by businessman Kevin Okyere and Springfield Exploration and Production Limited, was convicted by the General Jurisdiction Division of the High Court in Accra on June 25, 2026. Presiding judge Justice Isaac Addo found him guilty of breaching an interlocutory injunction and ordered his immediate imprisonment.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, July 9, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour acknowledged that every individual has the right to seek legal protection for their reputation through the courts. However, he cautioned that legal processes should not be used as tools to suppress critical journalism.
He stressed that while journalists must be held accountable for inaccurate or defamatory reporting, there is a clear difference between pursuing legitimate legal action and using lawsuits to intimidate the media.
“The GJA recognises and strongly affirms that every citizen has a right to protect their reputation through the courts. No journalist is above the law, and no media organisation is entitled to defame with impunity. Responsible journalism requires accuracy, fairness and accountability,” he said.
Mr. Dwumfour warned that some lawsuits are designed not to seek justice but to overwhelm journalists with costly legal battles, discourage investigative reporting and intimidate newsrooms into silence. He described such cases as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).
According to him, SLAPPs are increasingly being used around the world to target journalists investigating issues such as corruption, abuse of office, procurement irregularities, environmental crimes, land disputes and financial misconduct.
He noted that Ghana is beginning to experience similar patterns, with journalists and media organisations facing lawsuits seeking substantial damages and prolonged legal proceedings.
“More and more, journalists, editors and media houses are facing lawsuits with enormous damages, repeated claims and legal pressure that can stretch long after the story has been published. In many cases, the objective appears not to be truth, but intimidation. The aim is to make the cost of reporting so high that the newsroom is forced into silence, caution or self-censorship. This is unacceptable in a democratic society,” he stated.
The GJA described the case involving Larry Alans-Dogbey as a worrying example of the growing threat posed by SLAPPs and the chilling effect such legal actions can have on independent journalism.
Despite its concerns, the association reaffirmed its commitment to promoting responsible journalism and urged media practitioners to continue adhering to the highest standards of accuracy, fairness and ethical reporting while defending press freedom.
