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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had urged the media to safeguard the country’s democracy by fiercely combating misinformation and disinformation as the general elections draw near. He said the responsibility of the media in helping to consolidate the country’s democratic gains was a crucial matter that journalists must not lose sight of when executing their duties this elections period.
“In this digital age, we face new challenges—disinformation, misinformation, fake news, and sensationalism—that can distort the electoral process. Journalists must rise to the occasion by being the gatekeepers of truth,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo made the call at the 28th awards ceremony of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) held in Accra on Saturday to climax the 75th anniversary celebration of the GJA .
The event that saw Reporters Without Borders’ Edward Adeti being adjudged the Journalist of the Year, was on the theme “75 years of excellence in journalism: The role of the media in democratic governance and elections.”
President Akufo-Addo noted that the growing challenges posed by disinformation, misinformation, and the digital age required journalists to be more thorough and conscientious now more than ever.
He said even though technology had democratized access to information, it had also brought in its wake new vulnerabilities and this required that journalists were vigilant more than ever.
“In the current media landscape, where social media platforms enable the rapid spread of information, journalists are faced with the task of ensuring that facts prevail over falsehoods,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo said it was important that journalists report with integrity, fairness, and accuracy, since that was the surest way of ensuring that citizens were well-informed to make decisions that affect their future.
He commended the media for its role in promoting transparency, accountability, and the public good, particularly in periods of political transition.
He said the media’s contribution to the restoration of democracy in 1992 and its continued involvement in educating the public and safeguarding democratic values could not be overstated.
He urged media practitioners to maintain theirprofessionalism and safeguard the public’s trust by adhering to the principles of truth, fairness, and impartiality.
“The bond between journalists and the public is built on trust, and it is this trust that must be continually safeguarded by your professionalism and dedication to accuracy, fairness, and balance,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo recounted his efforts in advancing the rights of journalists in Ghana by highlighting his government’s commitment to passing the Right to Information Act, which empowers journalists and the general public to access critical information to hold leaders accountable.
This, coupled with the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law during his tenure as Attorney General in 2001, has strengthened the foundation of press freedom in Ghana, he said.
President Akufo-Addo commended the resilience, courage, and dedication of Ghanaian journalists and reaffirmed his belief that a free and vibrant press was crucial to democracy.
The President of the GJA , Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, urged President Nana Akufo-Addo to address illegal mining (galamsey) during his final three months in office.
He reminded the President of his unfulfilled promise to combat galamsey and called for a state of emergency to protect water bodies, the repeal of L.I 2462, and the immediate cessation of mining near rivers.
Mr Dwumfour also condemned the remanding of protesters from a recent anti-galamsey demonstration, praising police professionalism but criticising their excessive actions, advocating for a balanced approach that respects human rights.
Other speakers at the event took turns to congratulate the winners and called on journalists to be circumspect in their reportage especially during this election period, as their work was crucial to the protection of peace and stability in the country.
The speakers included the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Kashere, Nigeria, Professor Umaru Pate; the Paramount Chief of the Nandom Traditional Area, Naa Prof. Edmund Nminyem Delle Chiir VIII, the Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar and the Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL
