FOTP 2013 Full Report

other provisions of the law are designed to strengthen diversity at the wholesale level, ensuringthat a range of newspapers are distributed to retailers.Germany’s television market is among the most competitive in Europe, and more than 90percent of households have cable or satellite television. There are nine regional public-servicebroadcasters for the country’s 16 states, plus ZDF and two national public radio stations. All arefinanced primarily by license fees and managed by independent bodies. In addition, a number ofprivate broadcast outlets operate throughout the country. Germany is home to some of theworld’s largest media conglomerates.Approximately 84 percent of Germans accessed the internet in 2012.GhanaStatus: FreeLegal Environment: 8Political Environment: 10Economic Environment: 10Total Score: 28Survey Edition 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Total Score, Status 27,F 26,F 26,F 26,F 28,FThe environment for freedom of expression and the press in Ghana remained generally healthy in2012, despite the potential for political turmoil surrounding the death of President John AttaMills and the succession and subsequent election of his vice president, John Dramani Mahama ofthe National Democratic Congress (NDC), as the new head of state. Freedom of the press islegally guaranteed, and the government typically respects this right in practice. Criminal libeland sedition laws were repealed in 2001, but Section 208 of the 1960 criminal code, which bans“publishing false news with intent to cause fear or harm to the public or to disturb the publicpeace,” remains on the books and is occasionally used against journalists. Moreover, current andformer public officials and private citizens sometimes bring civil libel cases that seek cripplingamounts in compensation from media outlets, which can encourage self-censorship. InNovember 2012, the general secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, sued the privateDaily Guide newspaper over a story alleging that he had purchased multiple properties in Accraand Kumasi.The cabinet approved a Right to Information Bill in November 2009 that would reinforcethe constitution’s guarantee of freedom of information. However, at the end of 2012, theparliament had yet to pass the measure. The Ghana Right to Information Coalition (GRIC), anadvocacy group, has lamented the delay, but the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) vowed tooppose any version of the bill that does not provide for an independent information commission.The TUC also argues that too many public and government entities would be exempt fromsupplying information under the current draft.While the state-run Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) is protected fromgovernment interference by the 1992 constitution, political parties attempt to influence coverage.Private media face a degree of editorial pressure from their owners , particularly those withpolitical connections, and some journalists practice self-censorship for political or commercial179