Licensed journalists will compromise freedom of the press – MFWA

General News on Thursday, May 30, 2019

Source: ABCnewsgh.com

2019-05-30

The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Mr. Sulemana Braimah, revealed that the dismissed journalists will suppress press freedom in the country, may report ABC News Ghana.

The comments of the director of the Media Foundation for West Africa follow calls by a section of Ghanaians for the granting of an appropriate journalism license to, among other things, limit the spread false information and encourage adequate journalism.

Former President J. A. Kufour had, at the launch of the GJA's 70th anniversary, launched an appeal to the leaders of the Ghana Journalists Association to consider licensing professionals in the sector.

In an address delivered at the ceremony, the former president said that licensing journalists would reduce the lack of respect towards the profession.

According to him, in the past, the media recruited very prestigious practitioners, hence the need to protect, at this critical moment, the sanctity of the profession.

However, commenting on the call of the former president in a radio interview broadcast by ABC News Ghana, the executive director of the MFWA said that he accepted the call of the former president would only suppress freedom of the press.

He compared the situation to Ghana's negotiation of press freedom for the licensing of journalists, which, in his view, would not be in the interest of the media community.

"People mostly subscribe to this idea, thinking that it would improve the practice of the media. However, research by many individuals and other countries wishing to adhere to this idea has revealed that the licensing of journalists would compromise the freedom needed to fight corruption. Many questions arise when advocating for the authorization of journalists; For example, which institution will be responsible for determining whether or not to be fired, "said Mr. Braimah.