The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), as well as its partners, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the New Media Association, has urged all journalists, media practitioners and media organisations to be cautious of their utterances and reportage on their platforms to save the country from slipping onto the path of violence with its attendant consequences.
The Coalition noted with concern the growing spate of breaches of responsible and professional media conduct in the country.
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Speaking at a joint press conference to address unethical conduct of Journalists and media practitioners, President of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour noted that the GJA Code of Ethics and the GIBA Code of Conduct clearly spell out the responsibilities of journalists and media practitioners in the execution of their roles and mandates.
“In the spirit of those professional codes, this Coalition condemns in no uncertain terms, comments and pronouncements that have the potential to undermine Ghana’s peace and stability as a democracy, and which can negatively affect our collective efforts in protecting and defending media freedoms, as well as freedom of expression in the country,” he said.
Mr Dwumfour continued,”We are of the view that being critical and holding leaders and government accountable to the people should not be conflated with spewing hate speech and insulting personalities.”
He stated that the Coalition is resolute in its defense of media freedom and free speech.
However, it cannot overlook unethical behaviour that brings the media profession into disrepute and undermines public trust in the media as an institution.
“We, therefore, unequivocally condemn all unethical and reckless media practice by any journalist or media practitioner. In this regard, we wish to remind and caution all journalists, media practitioners and media organisations that the extent to which the GJA, GIBA and PRINPAG, together with the MFWA and the New Media Association, can defend media freedoms is very much dependent on how professionally and responsibly journalists, media practitioners and media organisations carry out their duties,” Mr Dwumfour warned.
Meanwhile, Mr Dwumfour observed that in West Africa, Ghana is an oasis of peace, underscoring the need for Ghana’s peace to be guarded at all cost.
He stressed the point that the media industry plays a critical role in ensuring the protection of national peace and security.
The GJA President therefore urged all to conform to the tenets and standards set for the profession in ensuring that everything practitioners do is in conformity with the laws of the country and the ethics of the profession in order not to plunge the country into needless chaos as happened in Rwanda three decades ago.
“We must also be guided by the fact that we are fast approaching the general elections in December with the political atmosphere already charged,”he stated.
Mr Dwumfour added “Therefore, it is important to be sensitive to the fact that in these times, the least incitement could lead to an explosion.”
He continued that,”The GJA, GIBA, PRINPAG, MFWA and New Media Association, therefore, caution all journalists, media practitioners and media organisations to be cautious of their utterances and reportage on their platforms to save the country from slipping on to the path of violence with its attendant consequences.”
Again, he added,” It is important to note that this caution is not a gag on the right to free expression, given that
there are decorous means and avenues for journalists and citizens to express their opinions loud and clear.”
He added that the Coalition remains resolute in its defence for media freedom and that requires them to also champion media professionalism.
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