Kufuor did not ask permission from journalists

General News on Friday, May 31, 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

2019-05-31

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor denied Thursday he had called for permission from journalists in Ghana to guarantee the mental health of the profession.

Part of the media, however, falsely reported the former president's statement when he compared the journalist profession to other professions, which require licenses to operate, forcing the Ghana Journalists Association to apply its code of ethics to encourage responsible journalism.

In his speech, Mr. Kufuor gave the notice to launch the 70th anniversary of the GJA in Accra on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.

As a result, when a delegation of the GJA visited him at his home in Accra to thank him for honoring his invitation to launch the platinum anniversary, Mr. Kufuor categorically denied this statement. – according to a statement of the GJA signed by its president, Affail Monney.

"I just explained that journalists have to be cautious in their work because of their influence. I did not say that journalists should have a license, "he said.

Dr. Adubofour, the former president's personal badistant, also stated that, apart from Mr. Kufuor's speech, there was no opportunity – before, during, and after the event – that he gave a journalist or journalists an interview The delegation of the GJA who visited the former president was composed of Affail Monney, president, Ms. Linda Asante-Agyei, vice-president; Kofi Yeboah, Secretary General; Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, National Secretary Organizer; Ms. Audrey Dekalu, Treasurer, and Mr. Bright Blewu, Former Secretary General.

"The denial of former President Kufuor confirms a clarification previously made by the GJA during interviews with the media: there was nowhere in the six-page speech and 2506 words of the Former president that he had launched such a call for permission from reporters. That would have been contrary to the honor conferred on him by the GJA as Ghana's champion of freedom of the press, "the statement said.

"What the ex-president actually said, that the GJA wishes to reiterate for the avoidance of doubt, is summarized in his speech as follows:

& # 39; & # 39; Ladies and gentlemen, the challenge here is that because journalism practitioners do not have to be licensed or publicly regulated, unlike many other professions, they come to practice a lot of work. influence and power to shape the minds of the people without open and proportionate accountability and accountability.

"So, some of your members are likely to use the airwaves and other media as tools and weapons to deceive, intimidate, defame, chastise, disrespect and sometimes even blackmail individuals and authorities. As a result, many people and even the security of nations have been ruined in an unjust and irreparable way.

"The cost can be incalculable and has contributed to the subversion of democracy and human rights in many parts of the world."

The GJA, therefore, advised journalists and media professionals to pay attention to what they report and attempt to verify their information at all times, especially when in doubt.

"An inaccurate reporting can undermine the freedom of the media, a valuable right that we must defend with truth and accuracy. We must be very cautious in our reporting, in particular, as we prepare for crucial elections in December this year and next year.

"Finally, we invite news companies that have published the story of" the call for license ", which distorts the remarks made by the former president, in order to take advantage of the wisdom that he shared at the launch of the 70th anniversary of the GJA:

"However, if you are wrong during your work, be bold and humble enough to accept your failings and apologize for your misstatements. This makes you a more credible journalist because the mistake is human.

"It would be arrogant for you not to accept the guilt of your proven misrepresentations. My friends, such attitudes disregard the image of the profession as a whole and attract stigma, and may suggest, rightly or wrongly, that your services may be for rent and that there may be hidden goals, other than objective journalism. "