Sunyani: Mr Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, a former Deputy Attorney General, has urged media practitioners and the youth to play active roles in building and strengthening peaceful cities. He emphasized the importance of sustaining and consolidating the nation's reputation as one of the most peaceful countries in Africa and the world.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Tuah-Yeboah spoke at the opening session of a forum marking the Bono Regional celebration of World Press Freedom Day in Sunyani. The event was organized by the Bono Regional chapter in collaboration with the Global Media Foundation (GloMeF), a media advocacy NGO, under the theme: 'Shaping a Future at Peace - The Role of the Youth and the Media in Building Peaceful Cities'. The forum attracted media practitioners, veteran journalists, chiefs, queens, and faith-based organizations and coincided with the launch of the 2025 regional awards of the chapter.
Participants had the opportunity to undergo free health screenings conducted by the Bono Regional Directorate of Health. Mr Tuah-Yeboah explained that strengthening peaceful cities goes beyond the absence of violence and involves fostering communities where safety, respect, and dialogue resolve conflicts. He encouraged the youth to engage in productive activities and use new media to promote unity, challenge stereotypes, and hold duty bearers accountable.
Mr Tuah-Yeboah also urged media professionals to uphold ethical journalism and avoid spreading misinformation and hate speech, stating that responsible journalism is vital for sustainable development. He highlighted that responsible journalism, youth empowerment, and digital literacy are essential for safeguarding national peace in Ghana's urbanizing communities.
Expressing concern over the rise in fake news, Mr Tuah-Yeboah noted that false information undermines free speech and press freedom, fueling insecurity rather than promoting peace. He cited the misuse of Section 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Section 76 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), urging the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to advocate for the proper application of these laws and repeal those infringing on press freedom.
The Very Reverend Dr Solomon Bruce, Superintendent Minister and Synod Secretary of the Sunyani Methodist Diocese, presided over the event, encouraging media circumspection in reportage to advance holistic national development. The forum was also attended by Mr Joseph Addae Akwaboa, Bono Regional Minister, Nana Kwaku Kumi, Bono Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and Mr Emmanuel Kofi Agyeman, Bono Regional Patron of the GJA.