Prominent Ghanaian human rights advocate, Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, has raised fresh concerns over what he describes as the “double marginalization” of persons with disabilities amid declining press freedom across Africa.
According to him, the erosion of media freedoms on the continent is not only a threat to democracy but also deepens the exclusion of vulnerable groups—particularly persons with disabilities whose voices are already underrepresented.
Speaking in an interview on Africa In Perspective, a programme on Lagos-based 95.7 FM Radio Now, Dr. Wemakor stressed that urgent action is needed to safeguard inclusive participation in governance and public discourse.
His comments come ahead of a high-level dialogue session to be hosted by Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) at RightsCon 2026 in Lusaka, Zambia.
The session, scheduled for May 6, 2026, is themed “Silenced Twice: Press Freedom and Disability Voices Under Threat in Africa.”
“This is about the intersection between press freedom, disability inclusion, and shrinking civic space in Africa,” he said. “When the media is silenced, millions—especially persons with disabilities—lose a vital platform for accountability.”
Dr. Wemakor who doubles as the Founder and Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) noted that while press freedom challenges affect the general population, persons with disabilities face an even deeper crisis due to systemic barriers such as stigma, discrimination, and neglect.
“If press freedom is eroded, their stories are the first to disappear,” he warned.
The RightsCon dialogue, part of the global digital rights summit organised by Access Now, will bring together journalists, policymakers, civil society actors, and disability rights advocates to explore solutions to the growing challenges.
It will also run alongside the World Press Freedom Day Global Conference convened by UNESCO in collaboration with the Zambian government.
Dr. Wemakor outlined a number of measures needed to address the situation, including stronger legal protections for journalists, repeal of laws that criminalise legitimate reporting, and independent investigations into attacks on media professionals.
He also called on media organisations to prioritise inclusion by recruiting journalists with disabilities and ensuring content accessibility through sign language interpretation, captioning, and assistive technologies.
“Addressing these challenges requires bold and coordinated action from governments, media institutions, and civil society,” he said.
He further urged African governments to ratify the African Disability Protocol to strengthen protections and combat discrimination against persons with disabilities.
As preparations intensify for RightsCon 2026, Dr. Wemakor emphasized that protecting press freedom must go hand in hand with ensuring that no group is left behind.
“This is not just about media freedom,” he added. “It is about making sure every voice counts.”
Click the link below to listen to partly to the interview: