Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to protect all journalists and ensure that they work in an environment free of oppression.
He noted Ghana’s poor performance on the Press Freedom Index, noting that the country has dropped 30 places.
He also noticed that some media practitioners have been harassed due to the work they do, pointing to Ahmed Suale as one who paid the ultimate price.
The current state of the media, he said calls for concern.
“If you look at our current performance on the Press Freedom Index, it is very concerning that our performance has been so poor, we have moved 30 spaces down, it is unprecedented.
Even though the government might say that it is democratic and creating space for media to operate, our performance on the Press Freedom Index just shows clearly that there is a problem and it is paradoxical because to have as President, a Person who prides himself as having repealed the criminal libel laws and is on record to have said that he prefers a reckless media to a docile media and yet now, that same recklessness has BNI Officers picking people up, armed men visiting the residence of journalists and picking them up and detaining them, it is unacceptable and I think that the GJA as the mouthpiece of all journalists must speak up,” Mr. Mahama advised.
Mr. Mahama gave the advice when Executives of the Ghana Journalists Association paid a courtesy call on him Friday at his Office.
He also said, “There are several journalists who have complained about self-censorship because they feel afraid that if you publish anything adverse about government, you either get a call or you fear that you might be harassed or some anonymous people will call you and threaten your life and so we must look out for all journalists and make sure that they can operate in an atmosphere that is free from oppression.
He also called on the GJA to ensure to continue to fight to bring to book the murderers of Ahmed Suale.
For his part, the GJA President, Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour made it known to the Former President that since they assumed office, they had made several commitments to the Association but noted that key amongst them was the welfare of journalists.
“We have made a number of commitments to the Association and Mother Ghana but key amongst them is the welfare of journalists.
Under the welfare, we are looking at professional development, investing in the human capital of journalists, and building their capacity to cope with emerging trends. This will also ensure professionalism and at least reduction or curbing of yellow journalism in the country,” he said.
The GJA President also noted that the Association was rebranding and transforming the Association to make it more attractive to its stakeholders.
“We are also looking at rebranding and transforming the Association. In the past, we have been seen to be more reactive than proactive, we have exhibited this for years and this time around there is the need for us to give the Association a new face,” he said.
.Meanwhile, he stated that the GJA has formed an awards committee to review over 25 years of awards to make them more appealing to members and other stakeholders.
He invited the Former President to the upcoming GJA Awards slated for November 12, 2022, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City
Mr. Dwumfour also called on the Former President to support the Journalists Support Fund which will be launched on November 2, 2022.
The Former President also promised support with cash and or his presence.
Ghana l Atinkaonlune.com l Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
