Attacks on Journalists Are Attacks on Democracy – President Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has emphasized that the safety and security of journalists is a top concern for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Speaking at the 2023 GJA Awards in Accra, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that Ghana’s media remains “free, vibrant, and independent.”

Akufo-Addo praised Ghanaian journalists for their resilience, courage, and dedication, particularly as the country approaches the 2024 elections. He reiterated the importance of the media in upholding democracy, stating, “I remain deeply committed to ensuring that the media in Ghana remains free, vibrant, and independent. Your work is essential to the strength of our democracy, the integrity of our elections, and the progress of our nation.”

He further urged the media to report with integrity, fairness, and accuracy, noting, “The responsibility of the media during elections cannot be overstated. It is through your work that citizens are informed about the policies of political parties, the integrity of candidates, and the issues that matter most to their lives.”

Reflecting on the broader role of journalism, the President stressed, “No democracy can function properly when journalists are under siege. Those who attack the media, attack democracy itself and such actions should not and cannot be tolerated.”

He also highlighted new challenges posed by the digital age, calling on journalists to be “the gatekeepers of truth” in the face of disinformation.

The GJA Awards, which marked the end of the association’s 75th anniversary celebration, focused on the theme: ’75 Years of Excellence in Journalism: The Role of the Media in Democratic Governance and Elections.’

The event brought together important people from the media, including past and current GJA presidents, the Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, the United Nations (UN) Resident Representative to Ghana, Charles Abani, the Paramount Chief of the Nandom Traditional Area, Naa Professor Edmund Nminyem Delle Chiir, the Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh, and the Executive Director of EOCO, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, among other special guests. During the ceremony, 32 journalists and media organizations were given awards for their outstanding work in 2023 across different categories.