This year, we take particular note of the remarkable progress made by Ghana in the World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The country has moved from 8th place in Africa in 2025 to 4th in 2026, and from 52nd to 39th globally. These significant gains reflect tangible efforts to strengthen a freer, safer, and more pluralistic media environment. They demonstrate that sustained political and institutional commitment can deliver real results.

Yet, this progress—encouraging as it is—must not obscure the challenges that remain. Rather, it should serve as a catalyst to consolidate these gains, deepen reforms, and ensure effective protection for all media actors.

Beyond the rankings, the reality remains stark. Across West Africa and the Sahel, too many journalists, activists, and whistleblowers continue to face harassment, intimidation, forced exile, and multifaceted threats. It is in this context that WAJSIC operates.

With the decisive support of its partners, WAJSIC has, between 2022 and 2025, provided direct assistance to 98 individuals in situations of vulnerability, including 41 in 2025 alone. We have also trained more than one hundred journalists, activists, and whistleblowers, strengthening their capacity to protect themselves, document abuses, and make their voices heard.

These are not just numbers. They represent protected lives, preserved careers, and truths that continue to surface despite efforts to suppress them.

On this symbolic day, we express our deep gratitude to all our technical and financial partners whose trust and commitment make this work possible. Their support is a powerful reminder that international solidarity remains essential in defending freedom of expression and the safety of those who stand for truth.

But our work is far from over.

We call on States to fully uphold their human rights obligations, to end impunity for violations committed against journalists, and to create a safe and enabling environment for independent journalism.

We also call on citizens to actively defend press freedom, because a silenced press is the prelude to confiscated freedoms.

At WAJSIC, we remain resolute – resolute in protecting, in training, and in acting.

Because without a free press, there is no truth.

And without truth, there is no justice.

Accra, May 3

For WAJSIC

Anas Aremeyaw Anas

Chairman