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Audrey Gadzekpo is Director of the School of Communication at the University of Ghana, Legon
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The director of the School of Communication of the University of Ghana, Legon, said that one could trust the Ghanaian media to professionally report the impending general elections of 2020.
Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, who spoke at Joy FM's Super Morning Show (SMS) on Friday, said, "The media has reached adulthood. They have done a good job in previous elections and I can say that they will do better now. They have improved over time.
On World Press Freedom Day under the theme "Media for Democracy, Journalism and Disinformation Elections", she urged the media to go beyond the mere visibility of the problems and political actors who defend them.
The media should "help us understand what they say (politicians), ie, they make false statements and make sure people are well informed about the problems," he said. she accused.
This year's World Press Freedom Day is celebrated in Ethiopia.
Since the repeal of the Criminal Defamation Act in 2001, the media has expanded remarkably. According to the National Communications Authority, there are 392 active radio stations in Ghana and 128 licensed television operators.
Ghana boasts of media pluralism and freedom that has been ranked first in Africa according to the World Press Freedom Index.
The recent worrying developments in the media landscape, which have resulted in a drop in Ghana's ranking on the World Press Freedom Index, have revived calls for better protection of practitioners. This year, Ahmed Hussein Suale, a staff member of the tiger eye, was murdered, while reporters from the New Times Corporation were also physically badaulted by police officers. According to media activists, these incidents require media owners and state agencies to ensure that journalists are safe as the world celebrates Freedom Day. the press.
In a message commemorating the day, the National Democratic Congress flag bearer, John Dramani Mahama, said: "On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, I say ayekoo to all journalists and urge governments and security agencies to ensure their safety unburden their work. "
A statement from the government also added that "the Government of Ghana reiterates its commitment to support measures that deepen the boundaries of freedom of expression in the promotion of our democracy."
Gadzekpo, for his part, has called for a certain level of advocacy in the media to ensure that public office holders are held accountable for their actions, beyond simply reporting the facts of their management.
Although she conceded that this might not be easy, some media companies are either politically corrupt or active politicians. She is comforted by the fact that there are objective media companies whose professionalism will balance narrative in the service of the public good.
The speaker in communication asked the professional journalist to distinguish his works from those of social media, managed by amateurs. She added that social media content that can be taken into account by traditional media should be subject to an ethics of the media profession.
The public is less tolerant of media offenses and imposes stricter standards of accountability on the media.
The director of the School of Communication also called on the public not to give up the media. Calling for continued support, she said that the predominant freedom of the press should always be preferred over the previous days.
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