Every 25th of May, the African continent unites to celebrate Africa Day, reflecting on the grand visions of unity, liberation, and human dignity championed by our founding fathers. The African Union’s Agenda 2063 paints a beautiful picture of an Africa rooted in good governance, democracy, and the rule of law. Yet, for the media fraternity, this celebration carries a sobering, heavy truth.
True liberation cannot exist in silence, and democratic progress cannot thrive when the messengers of accountability are treated as targets on the streets. The most painful reality of our modern continent is that journalists are still being violently assaulted while going about their duties—not by rogue elements, but by state law enforcers.
This bitter contrast was thrust into the courtroom, where we fought an exhausting battle for justice. On May 14, 2026, after two grueling years of endless adjournments, constant filings, and severe emotional drain, we finally won. The High Court of Justice (Human Rights Division 2, Accra), presided over by His Lordship Justice Nana Brew, delivered a landmark judgment in our case, Bridget Otoo & Others v. The Inspector General of Police & Attorney-General. The court forcefully condemned the police misconduct during the September 2023 #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstration, ruling that officers violated the fundamental human rights of the very journalists they were duty-bound to protect.
The scars behind this verdict reveal the shocking hostility the press faces. During that protest, state actors turned on us: Bridget Otoo was assaulted and her blouse ripped apart, George Gyening Anyang was beaten with slaps, punches, a baton, and a metallic belt, and I was unlawfully detained while my phone was seized simply to stop me from recording the brutality unfolding before my eyes.
Winning this case has strengthened my belief that justice is possible, reminding us that as journalists who spend our lives telling other people’s stories, we also deserve protection under the law when our rights are violated.
However, our victory also exposes the massive financial barriers that keep ordinary citizens silent. Access to justice in Ghana remains a luxury; sustaining long constitutional litigation is incredibly expensive. With Ghana Bar Association scale fees for senior counsel ranging between GHC 2,000 and GHC 4,000 per hour, the system is designed to wear applicants down.
Many lawyers are actively discouraged from taking on human rights cases because there is little immediate financial reward compared to the immense billable hours spent filing processes at their own cost. I remained committed because accountability matters, and this financial strain is precisely why I am fully resolved to continue handling and supporting these cases for my colleagues.
Ultimately, this victory sets a reassuring and vital precedent for media freedom and freedom of expression in Ghana, proving to abusive actors that bureaucracy and legal delays will not wear us down. The court affirmed that the state’s actions were unconstitutional, awarding GHC 150,000 in total damages and ordering the police to publish an unqualified apology in the Daily Graphic.
Yet, as we celebrate AU Day, deep concerns remain about the safety of journalists during future public protests. A courtroom win punishes past misconduct, but it does not automatically change street-level police culture. If the AU’s vision of a liberated continent is to be realized, law enforcement must transition from executing political intimidation to genuinely protecting fundamental rights.
We celebrate this legal milestone today, but we remain resolute that the pen will not be bullied, and the camera will not look away.
The author of this piece is Vanessa Edotom Boateng. She is a producer and reporter with the Ignite Media Group (Metro TV, Original TV and Original 91.9 FM)
