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General News of Friday, July 12, 2019
Source: ABCnewsgh.com
2019-07-12
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information
Ghana has partnered with other Commonwealth countries to commit to protecting journalists.
The promise was made at the World Conference on Freedom of the Media which has just ended in London.
The two-day conference was also used to discuss ways to ensure responsible media and support for the safety and protection of journalists.
Ghana's delegation to the Conference was led by Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
In an address to participants, Nkrumah said Ghana has and continues to put in place a strong mechanism for free and responsible media practice through constitutional and legal frameworks.
"Ghana has repealed the criminal libel law, pbaded a whistleblower law and recently adopted the right to information. These developments have introduced a refreshing pluralism into the Ghanaian media landscape, "he said.
"It has also opened up access to new and diverse voices that have promoted democracy and participation in governance and development; and most importantly, strengthening the freedom of the press, "he added.
The information minister said Ghana's performance in the World Press Freedom Index in recent years has been laudable, despite recent cases of attacks on press freedom.
"In recent years, Ghana has also experienced its share of attack against free media, despite our good track record," he said.
"The worst badbadination of Ahmed Suale, in cold blood, would be related to his job as an badociate of the press organization Tiger Eye PI. Unfortunately, our investigative agencies have not made much progress in arresting and punishing the perpetrators of such acts, "the minister said.
"It seems like we have seen media excellence and public tolerance as something we have learned, but now we have to face the changing realities and do more," he added.
The Minister, who is also MP for Ofoase Ayirebi, revealed that Ghana is taking steps to combat abuses and attacks against journalists by putting in place a coordination mechanism on the safety of journalists that would help different stakeholders to prepare, prevent abuse and independently validate future claims of attack.
He also revealed that Ghana is putting in place a media capacity building program to support quality journalism, but that it will not fail to legislate to combat misinformation and misinformation, which are challenges that threaten confidence in the media.
The minister urged the media and journalists to go beyond investigations and disclosures of wrongdoing and use their platforms to also highlight the positive progress of corporations.
The first World Conference on Freedom of the Media was organized jointly by the British and Canadian governments.
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