Sir Sam Jonah, the Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), has encouraged Ghanaian journalists to pursue shielding Ghana’s democracy by speaking strikingly on issues that undermine the actual fabric of Ghanaian culture.
He asked media professionals in Ghana to be models of objectivity, advertisers of informed speech, and unflinching champions of freedom and truth.
Sir Sam Jonah made these comments during the launch of the Ghana Journalists Association’s (GJA) 75th commemoration in Accra on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
In his speech, he expressed worries about challenging trends in the national discourse, urging a renewed commitment to the course, especially in the current era where democratic values and social cohesion face significant tests.
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As indicated by him, with the quintessence of Ghana’s majority rules government and the structure holding the system together being tested, it is time people commit once again the standards Ephraim Amu smoothly embraced.
He further entreated journalists to be exceptionally evenhanded with informed discourse.
“I implore you to be the standard-bearers of objectivity, the architects of informed discourse, and the unyielding defenders of freedom and truth. In this regard, all of us have to be concerned about some disturbing developments in our national discourse.”
“The perceived weaponisation of state agencies against opponents, the creeping assault on freedom of the press, the perceived lack of trust in the dispensation of justice, and the pathetic lack of accountability in the protection of the public purse, this is the time for patriots to find their voices.
“This is the time to be fearless and courageous. We cannot and must not compromise on our defence of the national interest. The success of our attempt at a democratic order will depend crucially on how free the press is. In the words of Walter Cronkite, a widely respected American journalist, ‘freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy!”
Sam Jonah therefore implored the GJA to maintain the standards of good administration, equity, and responsibility, focusing on the significance of truth in forming Ghana’s future.
The GJA celebration is on the theme: “75 Years of Excellence in Journalism: Honouring the Past, Encouraging the Present, shaping the Future”.
