Accra:The Government has expressed a preference for media self-regulation rather than state oversight, urging media entities to assume responsibility for their activities to prevent excessive government intervention and protect press freedom.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Samuel Nartey George, Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, emphasized the need for the media to self-regulate to avoid government overreach. He stated, "Government does not want to be the editor of Ghana's newsrooms. We will not be. We cannot be."
Mr. George made these remarks during a public forum organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in Accra, focusing on ending impunity for crimes against journalists in Ghana and strengthening safety, accountability, and press freedom. He encouraged media organizations and professional bodies to enforce ethical codes, sanction breaches, establish complaints mechanisms, and maintain ethical standards irrespective of political affiliations.
He further admonished that professional misconduct should not lead to violence against journalists, advocating for corrections, rights of reply, and complaints to regulators as appropriate responses. Mr. George also called for impartial investigations into attacks on journalists and accountability for perpetrators.
The Minister supported the MFWA's Model Safety of Journalists Policy and encouraged media owners to adopt it, providing necessary risk assessments and support for journalists. Mr. Sulemana Braimah, MFWA's Executive Director, acknowledged Ghana's relatively safer environment for journalists but cautioned against complacency, noting ongoing challenges in ensuring journalist safety and accountability for attacks.
Prof. Amin Alhassan, Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, highlighted the economic conditions affecting journalists' safety and urged the National Communications Authority to require Social Security contributions for media workers for broadcasting license renewals. He also called for discussions on net neutrality to prevent preferential treatment by telecommunications operators.
Mrs. Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, former President of the Ghana Journalists Association, supported the model safety policy, urging its adoption to enhance journalist protection. The forum aimed to bolster journalist safety and accountability for crimes against media practitioners in Ghana.
Source Ghana News Agency