Letter to President Mahama From Ghanaian Broadcaster- Permit Free Press to Operate Under Your Leadership

By Maxwell Nkansah

President Dramani Mahama took office on July 24, 2012, following the death of his predecessor, John Atta Mills. He was reelected to office in 2012. He later became Ghana's first president to have held all levels of political office, including MP, deputy minister, minister, vice president, and president.

He later lost the 2016 general election to Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo. Following the 2016 election, the president was re-elected for another term, bringing his total time in office to eight years. Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo's eight-year presidency was marked by abuse of authority, impunity, and threats against media practitioners. Journalists were imprisoned, assaulted, or forced to flee the country.

Maxwell Nkansah, a distinguished broadcast journalist from Ghana with more than eight years of experience in Ghanaian and international media landscape, has composed a letter to extend his congratulations and attributing various difficulties to the newly elected president, John Dramani Mahama. He added that the president should make sure the freedom of the press is paramount to the president and administration

“Dear President, John Dramani Mahama,

My name is Maxwell Nkansah, and I have had the privilege of serving as a television journalist for the past eight years. During this time, I’ve witnessed firsthand the struggles and triumphs of our beloved Ghana. But these last eight years, under the leadership of the departed New Patriotic Party government, led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has been particularly challenging for journalists.

We have faced impunity, insults, threats, and, perhaps most painfully, an air of arrogance from some government officials. The abuse of power has forced some of my senior colleagues to leave the country entirely—for their safety and peace of mind.

Those of us who dared to hold the administration accountable have been met with threats and blacklists, effectively barring us from participating in official government activities. This is not how a democracy should function.

Our role as journalists is clear—to hold leadership accountable and ensure that promises made to the Ghanaian people are fulfilled. But under the previous administration, too many of us paid a heavy price for doing our jobs.

I cannot forget the names of those who have suffered: Ahmed Suale, whose life was cut short in Madina for his investigative reporting, gunned down by unidentified people, Caleb Kudah, a journalist from Citi FM, arrested, assaulted, and detained for simply capturing images.

Eric Nana of Connect FM, detained and brutalized by police, Nicholas of Akyemansa FM, detained and beaten by military personnel for recording them, Captain Smart of Onua TV, repeatedly arrested and harassed for challenging the government, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a lawyer and activist, charged with treason for daring to stand up against the government, Selorm of The Finder newspaper, detained simply for documenting an altercation involving the police.

Mr. Mahama, as you prepare to assume leadership once again, we place our hope in you to ensure that this dark chapter for Ghanaian journalism does not repeat itself. Under your administration, we trust that journalists will be free to do their work without fear of intimidation, threats, or blacklisting.

Your appointees must understand that accountability is not an attack—it is a cornerstone of governance. We are here to partner with your administration in service to the Ghanaian people, ensuring that promises are kept and that Ghana thrives.

Mr. President, this is your final political contest in Ghana, and we are rooting for you to leave an enduring legacy—one where press freedom is celebrated, not sabotage. I wish you all the best on this journey, and I look forward to seeing Ghana flourish under your leadership. Together, let us ensure that this great nation remains a beacon of hope, democracy, and progress.”