26 June 2001

PROCESS TO ELIMINATE CRIMINAL LIBEL BEGINS


Ghana has begun the process to remove criminal libel from its statute books, report the West African Journalists Association (WAJA) and ARTICLE 19. The bill that would repeal the law on seditious libel was published in the official gazette on 8 June, according to WAJA. The bill must still go through three readings in parliament before becoming law. Repeal of the criminal libel law was a campaign promise of the new government, elected in December 2000. The former government used the law on several occasions to harass journalists, notes WAJA.

"The repeal of criminal libel law puts Ghana at the forefront of African countries when it comes to meeting international standards on free expression," says ARTICLE 19. "The Government of Ghana is to be congratulated on taking this important step." In November 2000, the Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Organization of American States recommended that all states review their defamation laws to ensure that they do not restrict the right to freedom of expression and to bring them into line with their international obligations, notes ARTICLE 19. For more information see www.ujao.org and www.article19.org. [Updates IFEX "Communique" #10-8].




Stay on top of free expression news.

Sign up to receive the weekly IFEX Communiqué.


Also from the Communiqué, 26 June 2001

SLOVAKIA: CRIMINAL DEFAMATION CHARGE THREATENS PRESS FREEDOM, SAYS IPI 26 June 2001 NORTH AMERICA: NAFTA SECRECY CHALLENGED IN COURT 26 June 2001 SYRIA: NAYOUF ABDUCTED FOR 24 HOURS; OTHER JOURNALIST REMAINS IN JAIL 26 June 2001 TURKEY: RESTRICTIVE MEDIA LAW STILL A CONCERN DESPITE PRESIDENT'S VETO 26 June 2001 CANADA: POLICE SEIZE PROTEST FOOTAGE AGAIN 26 June 2001 INTERNATIONAL: ALARMS PRESS FREEDOM ORGANISATIONS 26 June 2001 LAOS: NEW PENALTIES FOR PROVIDING "FALSE INFORMATION" PLANNED 26 June 2001

Ghana

National security officials violently assault photojournalists 16 January 2012 Journalists attacked by angry mob 2 December 2011 Newspaper reporter receives death threats 17 October 2011 Police arrest two demonstrators 12 October 2011 Journalists intimidated, prevented from covering trial 16 September 2011 See all alerts: Ghana


West Africa

NIGERIA: Airport officials lock out journalists, hold equipment 9 February 2012 MAURITANIA: ANHRI condemns detention of activist 9 February 2012 NIGERIA: French journalists detained, thrown out of restive state 7 February 2012 CAMEROON: Coup charges against writer dropped, still faces military tribunal 7 February 2012 CÔTE D'IVOIRE: Two detained journalists released 3 February 2012


 
The International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) is a global network of 95 organisations working to defend and promote the right to free expression.
Permission is granted for material on this website to be reproduced or republished in whole or in part provided the source member and/or IFEX is cited with a link to the original item.