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General News of Monday, July 22, 2019
Source: Graphic.com.gh
2019-07-22
Ahmed Suale
The US Embbady is calling for a thorough investigation into the death of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale seven months after his death by unidentified gunmen in Madina, Accra.
The embbady said Suale's death was more than an attack on Ghana's climate of transparency, democratic credibility and freedom of the press.
"New attacks against some journalists reflect a worrying trend that needs to be reversed to ensure Ghana's reputation for media freedom is maintained," said the press secretary of the embbady, Ms. Naomi. Mattos, during a dialogue with stakeholders on a national coordination mechanism for the safety of journalists in Accra.
The mechanism
Media representatives, security services, the government and civil society organizations are among the stakeholders responsible for the mechanism, which should be ready by next November.
COURSE OF PRINTING
Their mandate will include the deployment of interventions to prevent attacks on journalists, to protect journalists, to prosecute those involved in attacks on journalists, among other measures.
Led by the Ministry of Information and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), this body will also provide a framework for the validation of attacks and threats against journalists in Ghana, as well as to sensitize stakeholders to the need for a safe and responsible media environment in the country.
Ms. Mattos said the framework was important because security and responsible journalism went hand in hand. However, referring to the US ambbadador to Ghana, Ms. Stephanie S. Sullivan, she said that a memorandum of understanding, agreements and frameworks could only exist on paper.
"What matters is what happens after the adoption of this framework and the creation of the coordinating committee. Significant follow-up actions can only be carried out by the collaboration of ministries, law enforcement and civil society organizations to ensure that the true objective of a safe and responsible media environment is achieved. , she said.
Ms. Mattos said she was impressed by everyday Ghanaian journalists, who have worked tirelessly to highlight the challenges that governments and citizens face in attacking democracy and strengthening it. on various issues, from good governance to the fight against corruption, through transparency. trafficking in human beings and the promotion of gender equality and human rights for all citizens without exception.
Not positive
Heather Cameron, Canada's High Commissioner to Ghana, said it is encouraging that Ghana is taking steps to implement the recommendations of the first joint World Media Conference organized by Canada and the United States. this month.
"Journalists must be able to work safely without fear of reprisal," she said.
She observed that Ghana continued to make progress in promoting freedom of the press and other acts favorable to freedom of expression and congratulated the Government for adopting and approving the law on the right to information, adding that "this would promote transparency and accountability in public affairs".
As the country geared up for its presidential and legislative elections next year, Canada's High Commissioner said it was important that all stakeholders work together to combat hate speech.
Stakeholders
Stakeholders at the project's validation workshop came from 21 institutions, including the Ghana Association of Journalists, the National Media Commission, journalism training institutions, the School of Communications, and the Ministry of Education. Ghana Bar Association.
The other groups were the Armed Forces, the National Peace Council, the National House of Chiefs and the National Commission for Civic Education, media actors, such as the Association of Independent Broadcasters of Ghana, the Association of Private Newspaper Publishers of Ghana, the Association of Sports Writers of Ghana. and civil society organizations focused on the media and human rights.
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