Accra, June 16, GNA - Mr John Tia Akologu, Minister of Information, on Wednesday lauded the crucial role of the media in enhancing and entrenching democratic governance across Africa.

He said it was important that the media and governance together demonstrated good faith and diligence for the benefit of the people after power had been conferred on the government through the ballot box. Speaking at the press launch of Africa Media and Democracy Conference (AMDMC)in Accra, the Minister said a vibrant and healthy democracy could be sustained and guaranteed by a responsible media, whose role as one of the vanguards of emerging democracies in Africa called for full and unhindered participation.

The conference scheduled for August 14-20 in Accra, is expected to bring together professional media practitioners and communicators to examine the democratic dispensation on the continent, performance of the media, as well as the way forward to improve upon past performances. Mr Akologu said government was strenuously putting in place measures to empower the Ghanaian media to effectively contribute towards deepening democracy in the country.

He mentioned the Right to Information Bill, which was before Parliament and gave the assurance that it would be passed soon to facilitate free flow of information to help advance Ghana's young democracy. However, Mr Akologu stressed that while government played its role in strengthening the media to discharge its duties as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, it was incumbent on the media and communication practitioners to equally rise up to the task of ensuring that democracy around the continent was functional.

He commended the organisers for the conference and pledged government's support to ensure its success.

Barima Adu-Asamoa, Director, Africa Media and Democracy Foundation, an NGO, explained that the Foundation sought to constructively promote and ensure positive influence on the role of the media in the practice of democratic governance in Africa.

He said while facilitating stronger relationship between academia, media practitioners and governance, the NGO also fosters the development of a culture of democracy and rule of law.

Barima Adu-Asamoa called for full patronage of the Ghanaian media in both coverage and participation during the conference.