Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), on 3rd May, 2024, celebrated the 2024 World Press Freedom Day at Koforidua Technical University, in the Eastern Region, with the theme, “Leveraging journalism for a sustainable environment and future.”
The objective of celebrating World Press Freedom Day yearly is to acknowledge the key role played by the media in ensuring full respect for the right to freedom of expression, promoting the free flow of information and ideas, assisting individuals in making informed decisions and facilitating and strengthening democracy. It is also marked each year on May 3 to celebrate the value of truth and to protect the people who work courageously to uncover it.
In an address delivered by the National President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, at the World Press Freedom Day event in Koforidua on May 3, 2024, noted that, GJA marked for the first time, the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) outside Accra, the country’s capital, to Koforidua in the Eastern Region to make the Association’s regional branches vibrant and inspire all members with a strong sense of belonging in the Association.
Mr. Dwumfuor mentioned that, Ghana’s position in the World Press Freedom Index had improved from 62nd to 50thon Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index. He attributed this progress to the critical actions taken by the GJA leadership. He said the achievement was due to the GJA’s aggressive actions to defend journalistic freedom.
He used the occasion of World Press Freedom Day to called on the Ghana Police Service to advance investigations into the petrol bomb attack and prosecute the perpetrators.
The GJA President urged the media to renew their campaign against illegal and irresponsible mining, emphasizing the importance of protecting the environment and ensuring a sustainable future.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Seth Kwame Acheampong noted in an address that, the media had demonstrated over the years that it can be heavily relied upon in ensuring environmental sustainability, where individuals able to manage natural resources in a way that ensures they will continue to exist in the future.
Hon. Seth Kwame Acheampong commended journalists who are defying all odds to expose those who have the penchant of causing destruction to the environment. He encouraged them not to relent, but continue to forge ahead in complementing government’s efforts at protecting the environment for future. He stressed that, any attack on a journalist must be condemned in no uncertain terms, since it amounts to an attack on the country’s democracy.
He added that, in the absence of freedom of the press, injustice could not be challenged, preventing the demand of accountability from those who are supposed to account for their stewardship.
The Eastern Regional Minister, added that, the media had become an integral part of daily lives, playing a vital role in shaping individuals’ perspectives, bringing individuals up to speed with current events and driving positive change in the overall development of communities.
Mr. Edmond Moukala, Head of Office and Representative of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Accra, noted that, citizens should continue to work together by supporting the media to step up their role in ensuring sustainable environment for the good of the country.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Prof. Eric Nyarko Sampson, emphasized that, the media plays an important role in influencing the attitudes of the public towards the environment. He said the role of the media in increasing awareness on environmental issues could not be underestimated. He added that, the more knowledge the public has about the environment, the more it demands the design and implementation of policies for the protection of the environment and nature.
Prof. Eric Nyarko Sampson said that, collective action in the fight against ‘Galamsey’ by the media, had so far, yielded positive results, as they (the media) brought the issues to national attention for action.
The Minister of Information designate, Hon. Fatimatu Abubakari noted that, Global Press Freedom Ranking in 2024 indicated a significant improvement in Ghana’s ranking from 62nd out of 180 Countries to 50th. She said this marked a major milestone relative to media pluralism and a conductive environment for journalism to thrive.
Hon. Fatimatu Abubakari emphasized that, the Country’s commitment to promoting active participation of journalists in the democratic process was evidenced by the passage of the Right to Information Act, a development which has enhanced access to relevant information, particularly from governmental agencies.
She said initiatives such as the Coordinated Mechanism on Safety of Journalists and the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme had contributed immensely to the quality of journalism in the Country.
The Minister of Information designate, stressed that, Government would continue its collaboration with all stakeholders to ensure the safety of journalists, enhance the capacity of media houses and pursue other initiatives to promote quality journalism in the country.