GJA Marks Press Freedom Day In Accra

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), on Friday organized a flag-raising ceremony and a forum at the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra to mark the World’s Press Freedom Day.

The Deputy Minister of Information, Mr. Asamoah Boateng, who presented a paper on behalf of Papa Owusu Ankoma, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, said available UNESCO records indicated that 523 journalists were killed worldwide between 1992 and 2002 for various reasons.

This, he said, included 374 who were murdered intentionally, 128 for their political opinions, 67 for having exposed corruption and 179 because they were in conflict areas but were killed despite having identified themselves as reporters.

Mr Boateng said society had a duty to promote press freedom and encourage journalists to go about their duties without any fear."As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, we need to remind ourselves of the dozens of countries where publications are censored and journalists harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered."

He said it was refreshing that these distasteful developments had not been part of Ghana's political life during the past 10 years, adding that the only exception had been the threats issued to journalists who had expressed views that were not liked by a section of the public.

Mr. Boateng said over the past decade, the one-sided news reports presented by the state-owned media in support of government have given way to a more balanced presentation, adding that the press in Ghana today remained one of the vociferous and energetic on the African continent.

However, he said, one major problem had been inaccuracy of reports. As a result of this unpleasant situation a number of petitions had been sent to the National Media Commission, a body charged with the responsibility to ensure high journalistic standards in the country. Mr. Boateng said to be able to do a more credible job the media inGhana needed to be abreast with issues through constant training.

Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, President of the Ghana (GJA), said it was not for fun or sheer coincidence that the framers of the constitution dedicated a whole chapter (Chapter 12) to the freedom and independence of the media critical to the promotion of good governance and accountability.