Journalist Impunity Continues in Ghana After Ahmed Hussein-Suale Divela Murder

The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, observed each year on November 2, has drawn attention to the failure to hold accountable those responsible for the murder of Ghanaian journalist Ahmed Hussein‑Suale Divela. Divela, a reporter for the investigative outlet Tiger Eye PI, was killed near his family home in Accra in January 2019 after receiving threats.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for global solidarity in demanding justice for Divela’s killing. CPJ Africa Director Angela Quintal described the Ghanaian authorities’ inability to identify and prosecute the perpetrators as “outrageous,” noting that the lack of accountability in Divela’s case—and in other attacks on Ghanaian journalists—requires worldwide attention. While Divela’s family remains hopeful that justice will be served, especially after former President John Dramani Mahama pledged to ensure accountability, progress has been limited. Several suspects have been arrested and subsequently released due to insufficient evidence, and last month the attorney general closed the investigation into a suspect detained in March, again citing a lack of evidence.

CPJ has documented a pattern of impunity for attacks on the press in Ghana and has written to President Mahama regarding the country’s press‑freedom record. Attempts to obtain comment from the attorney general’s office have been unsuccessful; an email request went unanswered and a phone call to the listed number failed to connect. The case of Ahmed Hussein‑Suale Divela underscores the urgent need for stronger accountability and protection for journalists in Ghana. CPJ’s appeal for global solidarity serves as a reminder of the importance of press freedom and the necessity of ending impunity for crimes against journalists. As the international community continues to advocate for press freedom, Divela’s case—and those of other journalists who have been attacked or killed—remains a stark illustration of the challenges that persist in securing justice and accountability.