Supreme Court nominee, Justice Senyo Dzamefe, has strongly opposed any move to suppress investigative journalism, even when such reporting might portray the Judiciary in a negative light.

Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, 16 June, Justice Dzamefe was asked whether he would recommend restrictions on investigative journalism to safeguard the Judiciary’s image. He firmly rejected the suggestion.

“Generally, I wouldn’t recommend repression,” he said. “Any investigative journalist who wants to do a thorough job—once it’s true, why would I recommend suppression? Once it’s fair, fine.”

While championing media freedom, he also urged journalists to prioritise accuracy and avoid basing their reports on assumptions or misconceptions.

Justice Dzamefe acknowledged the media’s vital role in shaping public perception of the Judiciary and affirmed that the courts welcome scrutiny.

“The press can come and cover our work. As the Judiciary, we are not sacrosanct. So we are not against journalists covering our work. We can't gag the journalists,” he stated.

He, however, expressed concern over frequent misrepresentations of judicial proceedings, cautioning that such inaccuracies could erode public confidence in the justice system.

“All we are asking is that journalists report the truth. We don’t have the power to stop them, but we should make sure their reportage is the truth and is fair,” he added.

Justice Dzamefe encouraged media professionals to be diligent and seek clarification when necessary to ensure factual reporting.

“As much as possible, do follow-ups and ask if they don’t understand anything,” he advised.

His remarks contribute meaningfully to the ongoing discourse around media responsibility, judicial transparency, and the shared duty to protect the integrity of Ghana’s justice system.