Ghana: reinstate criminal libel?

Ghana is one of the few countries to have completely decriminalised libel (according to ARTICLE 19's defamation map of the world, most countries have and apply criminal defamation laws). But, with the quality of journalism being what it is (ie often poor), some voices have advocated for its reinstatement in Ghana.

But does bad writing justify reintroducing criminal libel laws? Does throwing someone into prison, sentencing them to a heavy fine or even imposing a suspended sentence on them improve their writing? No, it does not. Appropriate civil laws suffice to deal with defamatory writing; even better, bringing in an independent press council, de-linking commercial interests and editorial policies and some attention to journalism education would go a very long way to improving the quality of journalism. In Ghana and elsewhere. Fortunately some writers in Ghana agree with that sentiment.