Minister urges GJA to self-introspect

Accra, May 28, GNA – Mr. Pius Enam Hadzide, a
Deputy Minister of Information urged Tuesday journalists from Ghana
Association (GJA) to defend professionalism and accountability among its
members as he celebrates the 70th anniversary.

S & # 39; s expressing at the launch of the birthday in
Accra, which was executed by former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Mr. Hadzide
stated that freedom of the media is essential for democratic growth and national democracy.
development, the irresponsible practice of the media was seriously
destructive for democratic growth and national development.

"So we hope the GJA
his 70th birthday not only as an opportunity to celebrate his
achievements over the decades, but also to introspect the
the failures of the media and the need to strike a balance
between freedom of the media and responsibility, "said Mr Hadzide.

The anniversary was on the theme "Democracy,
Freedom and Independence of the Media in Ghana: 70 Years of GJA Presence
contribution".

At the event, national planning
Committee to oversee the activities for the birthday of platinum to celebrate
throughout the country was inaugurated.

The committee is chaired by
Mr. Ransford Tetteh, former President of the GJA.

Since the creation of the GJA, the
August 15, 1949, he played an important role in the political discourse of
the country.

As a coordinating body for journalists
In Ghana, the GJA led the media campaign against the military dictatorship, even in
the face of very dangerous consequences.

Mr. Hadzide said that the digital growth of
Media Landscape Facing Huge Freedoms and Independence Granted to Them
the 1992 Constitution, has resulted in many challenges at the border with
responsibility of the media.

"Does any one need to remind the media that the same
Constitution that grants them independence and freedoms also requires
responsibility on their part? Asked Mr. Hadzide.

He said that it was his hope and that of all
Well-meaning Ghanaians that the GJA would have the means to deal with
such challenges by punishing members who do not take responsibility
ankle.

He noted that it was on file that the
New Patriotic Party (NPP) government was the media most favorable to the media
government under the fourth republican constitution; stating that "and I
it's all history of Ghana. "

He said that during the
former president Kufuor, the law on criminal defamation, which essentially criminalized
freedom of expression, has been repealed with a view to widening the borders of the media
freedom already guaranteed by Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution.

He added that former president Kufuor was
generous enough to donate a public facility to Accra transformed into
the Ghana International Press Center and the GJA headquarters.

Mr. Hadzide said in connection with another
Government, this time President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (Ghana) has now
Law on the right to information.

Mr. Roland Affail Monney, President of the GJA
says as part of the 70th anniversary celebration, the GJA will hold
a special forum on how to reposition two key state media institutions – the
Ghana News Agency (GNA) and Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to operate
optimally in the turbulent media landscape.

He congratulated former President Kufuor for the
outstanding role that he played during his tenure in promoting the media
freedom in the country.

Daniel McKorley, Executive Director
Head of the McDan Group of Companies, who chaired the launch, urged Ghanaians to
appreciate the fact that journalists hold the key to democracy in the country.

Bernardino Koku Avle, Executive Director of
Citi FM and Citi TV, said that the obligation of journalists was to the truth and
not to the government or to the owners of press houses.

Mr. Avle, journalist 2017 of the newspaper
Year, urged fellow journalists to defend the truth and use the
truth to pull injustices into society.

GNA