Whistleblowers are individuals who expose illegal, unethical, or improper activities of an individual, government or organization. They often do so at the risk of being harmed or even killed by those threatened by the exposure of the whistleblower's information. 

Across Africa, a worrying trend has emerged where whistleblowers are not afforded enough protection after exposing corrupt or illegal activities. More often than not, potential whistleblowers have to consider their future, their loved ones, and their safety.

Whistleblowers have lost their lives

One person very familiar with this situation is Ghanaian investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, who is known for his work on reporting corruption cases in the West African nation.

In recent years, Awuni has had to move around under armed police escort provided by the government. In 2020, he had to flee Ghana for South Africa  after receiving death threats.

"All of this resulted in serious mental health challenges," Awuni told DW.

He refers to the murder of undercover journalist Ahmed Suale, who was shot dead outside his house in 2019. Suale reported on corruption in Ghanaian football, and Ghanaian MP Kennedy Agyapong, who disliked the coverage, revealed Suale's address and face and offered money to those who would harm him.

It became the first known case in Ghana of a journalist murdered for his work. Five years on, Suale's murder still has not been solved.

"That tells you how dangerous it is to operate in an environment where you can be threatened. You can be killed. And nobody suffers or loses sleep over the killing," said Awuni.

Few protections for Africa's whistleblowers 

This situation is not unique to Ghana, but Ghana is actually one of the few African countries that has legal protections in place for whistleblowers. While all African countries except Eritrea are part of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), 10 nations — Central African Republic, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Morocco, Mauritania, Somalia, South Sudan, Eswatini — have not ratified it.  

The only nations with specific whistleblower protection laws are Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia, Ghana, Ethiopia and Botswana. But even in countries where there are protections in place for whistleblowers, murders and intimidation still take place.

While Ahmed Suale's case rocked Ghana, South Africans were shocked by the 2021 murder of Babita Deokaran, a key witness in an investigation into the overpriced procurement of COVID-19 protective clothing in a scandal involving about €20 million ($22 million).

What are countries doing to protect whistleblowers?

"The motive of the whistleblower is inconsequential if the issues they're reporting are of serious national interest," Awuni said.

But experts like Elijah Kandie Rottok, senior human rights officer with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, said that "It is in our own interest as Africans, as governments, as organizations to encourage whistleblowers to avert any harm or prevent damage, or to improve the public service and to strengthen our organizational or public accountability."

Rottok adds that a "human rights-based approach" is needed, and lawmakers in every country need to review "laws and policies that might hinder whistleblowing practices," such as how confidentiality procedures are done, or laws that promote secrecy as opposed to balancing it against public interest.

On the ground, things are tough for rapid response officer Mathias Shibata from the Kenya-based Haki Africa human rights organization.

"As we speak in Kenya in the last 10 years, we've had over 300 people disappeared or extrajudicially killed," he told DW.

In Kenya's recent anti-government protests,  Shipeta estimates "over 60 people have actually disappeared in the country."

Why do whistleblowers do what they do?

For Awuni, shining the light on illegal activities by those in positions of power is a personal mission.

"I find it as my own way of contributing to the building of Ghana's democracy and also the development of my country, and there are occasions that I find it very outrageous, some of the things that happen to helpless people," he told DW.

"I don't believe that we have enough outrage," Awuni added. "When you get into trouble, you are mostly on your own."

Edited by: Benita van Eyssen