Fact check: Ghana never topped press freedom ranking in Africa during Mahama’s tenure

Former president John Dramani Mahama on Press Freedom Day on Sunday, May 3, 2020, said Ghana became the country with the highest levels of press freedom in Africa during his tenure as leader of the country.

“At the time, we were ranked number one out of 54 countries in Africa. We placed 23rd on the global ranking among 180 countries,” Mr. Mahama said in a statement found on his website, johnmahama.org.

But YEN.com.gh fact check has verified the claim by the NDC flagbearer and the verdict is that John Dramani Mahama’s assertion is completely false.

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The former president’s claim that Reporters Without Borders ranked Ghana number on the continent in press freedom is false because a check on the website of Reporters Without Borders says otherwise.

The Press Freedom Index is a ranking of countries compiled and published annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) based on the assessment of the countries’ press freedom records.

Mr. John Mahama served as President of Ghana in the years 2013 to 2016. But Ghana in those years according to the RSF placed 3rd, 3rd, 2nd, and 2nd from 2013 to 2016 respectively.

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So this means, Ghana never became number in the years, John Mahama was president, however, the only year Ghana topped Africa since 2013, was 2018, when the country also ranked 23rd in the world.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been responding to some concerns, assertions, and allegations made by former president John Dramani Mahama.

The NDC leader in his last two Facebook live conversation, raised issues about Ghana’s economy not being strong and resilient like some top government officials in the NPP administration want Ghanaians to believe.

John Mahama also said the Akufo-Addo government has failed to build infrastructure to support or match the country’s growth.

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Source: YEN.com.gh