Nanawasi Gyan K-Apenteng, a former chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC) has suggested that the media regulator sets up its own index in ranking press freedom in Ghana.

His comments come after Ghana dropped 30 places in the latest press freedom index released by Reporters Without Borders which monitors 180 countries.

The report released to commemorate international Press Freedom Day scored Ghana 67.43, placing Ghana 60th on the index, a sharp decline from its 30th place last year.

The latest ranking is the lowest the country has ever seen in the past 17 years since it placed 66th in 2005.

Reacting to the development, Gyan-Apenteng said creating a local index will help government carry out its own assessment of Press Freedom in Ghana.

“You know every entity has its own means of measuring some of these things. So the government is entitled to produce its own figures, its own assessment.”

He added, “My view is that the National Media Commission (NMC) should be the body to create its own index if it will and report on this regularly.”

“So that whether we are doing well or not doing so well, based on our own set of criteria, we will be out there very quickly. So that if corrective measures are needed and responsibilities apportioned, then we will have clarity,” he said.