Ghana has moved up five places with a score of 15.5 to secure the 22nd position out of 180 countries and the second behind Namibia in Africa, in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index ranking.

The data was computed based on a range of criteria that include media pluralism and independence, respect for the safety and freedom of journalists, and the legislative, institutional and infrastructural environment in which the media operate.

According to the annual evaluation released Thursday, February 12, 2015 by the watchdog group, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), top of the list are three Scandinavian countries: Finland, which has been in first place for five years in succession, followed by Norway and Denmark.

Worse performers at the other end of the scale are Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea.

The report observed a drastic decline in freedom of information in 2014 which accounted for the drop in performance of two-thirds of the 180 countries surveyed. There was also an eight percent increase in the violations of freedom of information.

North Africa and Middle East were at the bottom of the freedom of information list as they were "controlled by non-state groups in which independent information simply does not exist".

Congo fell 25 places to 107th after a difficult year for independent news outlets. Libya also fell 17 places to 154th due to their chaotic period since the fall of Gaddafi.

The United States went down three places to 49th as compared to last year and the United Kingdom lost a spot to secure the 34th position.

RSF meanwhile stated categorically that "the indicators compiled by Reporters Without Borders are incontestable".

Below is the full ranking as released by Reporters Without Borders.