The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) expresses grave concern over the recent decision by the Human Rights Court 2 in Accra to grant an interlocutory injunction against investigative journalist Innocent Samuel Appiah. This effectively bars him from publishing a report on alleged unethical practices and potential conflicts of interest involving Cynthia Adjei, CEO of Lysaro Group.
This disturbing development arose after Appiah sent a detailed questionnaire to Cynthia Adjei, seeking her response to allegations regarding Lysaro Group’s land acquisitions, contract awards, and tax compliance. Instead of responding to the journalistic inquiry, Adjei sought and obtained a court order to block publication of the yet-to-be-written report.
On June 5, Justice Nana Brew, who presided over the case, ruled in favour of Cynthia Adjei, citing the need to protect her fundamental human rights and her expressed fear of the report’s publication. The judge argued that damages would not suffice, should the report be published and found to be defamatory, and that the balance of convenience favoured the plaintiff.
Legal experts and media freedom advocates have criticised the decision as a troubling precedent that undermines the watchdog role of the media.
Cynthia Adjei argued that she is a private individual and not a public official. However, the report under scrutiny is said to explore how her company, Lysaro Group, may have allegedly benefited from contracts awarded by public institutions where her husband held influential positions. Mr. Jacob Kwabena Adjei is a former acting Managing Director of the state-owned oil and gas marketing company, GOIL Ghana Plc, and Board Chairman of the Students Loan Trust Fund, making her a politically exposed person.
The MFWA strongly condemns this ruling as a direct attack on press freedom and the constitutional right of the public to information. By pre-emptively gagging a journalist on the basis of speculative harm, the court has disregarded the critical function of investigative journalism in promoting transparency and accountability.
