President Akufo-Addo addressing African Journalist Leaders at a conference in Accra
President Akufo-Addo yesterday said that the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law in 2001, which curtailed press freedom and free expression for about a century, has helped to strengthen Ghana’s democratic credentials.
He said a vibrant and unfettered media is the most effective way to hold government and society to the highest standards of honesty, self-discipline and delivery.
“I am proud of the modest role I played in the process of the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law. As the Attorney-General, who piloted the repeal through Parliament, I was also responsible for the discontinuation of the then pending prosecutions, under the Criminal Libel Law, of notable Ghanaian journalists Tommy Thompson, Kofi Coomson and Eben Quarcoo for publications against personalities of the then government,” the President said.
President Akufo-Addo, delivering a keynote address at the Africa Journalists Leadership Conference, organised by the Federation of African Journalists in Accra yesterday said that the repeal of the obnoxious law has impacted positively on the development of the media in Ghana, freeing it from unnecessary self-censorship, and promoting a robust and critical media culture.
“In the process, the repeal (of the Criminal Libel Law) has contributed to the growth of a vibrant media that has won Ghana the reputation of having one of the most media friendly and liberal climates on the continent. It has also contributed significantly to the deepening of democracy in our country, enhancing public accountability as a strategic goal of public policy,” President Akufo-Addo said.
Information Act
The President also said that under his tenure, the Right to Information Act, which is meant to give effect to Article 21(1) (f) of the 1992 Constitution, has been passed and said with the strong presence of the media, everybody is able to give boldly and freely his or her feedback on policies and programmes of the government.
He said civil society organisations are able to interrogate fearlessly government actions and positions and offer views and critiques aimed at complementing the efforts of government.
He also said that political opposition is able to raise dissent openly, canvass for alternate view points, and, by so doing, offer our citizens alternatives to consider on all key issues of our national discourse.
“Even as one of the public figures most persistently vilified in sections of the Ghanaian media, who, ironically, was a principal actor in the repeal of the law, I continue to insist that its repeal was necessary in the public interest in our emerging democracy. I maintain that I prefer a boisterous, reckless media, to a supine one,” the President said.
Accept Criticism
The President was concerned that there were attempts by some persons in the media to create an impression of a state of insecurity in the country under the pretext of a supposed imposition of a ‘culture of silence’.
“There seems to be an emerging narrative, which is being proffered by some in Ghana that critiquing the work of a journalist constitutes an attack on media freedom,” he said, adding “that certainly cannot be described as an attack on media freedom.”
Rather, he said “having the freedom to criticise and oppose should also mean that the media is ready to accept and work with criticisms of its work by the citizenry or officialdom.
“That, for me, is one of the surest ways of improving the public discourse of our respective countries, and we should all strive towards realising this.”
He, however, insisted that when journalists are physically attacked or prevented from doing their work, no matter where it takes place, it constitute an attack on media freedom, and must be roundly condemned by all.
Fake News
The President therefore urged the Journalists’ Leaders Conference to use the event to address the phenomena of misinformation campaigns and fake news, which, sometimes, unfortunately, are propagated by some in the media.
“The tendency to report on only one side of a story, and pass judgment on it, without wanting to learn or give a fair amount of reportage to the other side, stifles the truth. The media should only be concerned about reporting the facts, and should not lend themselves to being bought or being used to destroy the reputations of others,” he added.
Immeasurable Power
Even though the President admitted that the media possesses what he described as immeasurable power, he appealed to them to ensure that they do not sacrifice the integrity and the future of society on the altar of an instant scoop or ill-considered publication.
The Rwanda genocide in 1994, he said, presents probably the best example of the calamity that can befall a country when the media is oblivious of, or chooses to ignore this particular sacred role.
The President said that journalists and media organisations on the African continent must not take the national cohesion for granted, saying “as was proven in Rwanda, all it takes is for a radio station to broadcast a few provocative and ethnocentric catch-phrases to alter completely the course of a nation’s history.”
Govt Commitment
The President reiterated his commitment to empower the citizenry, media and civil society, so all can play their part in realising the vision of building a progressive and prosperous Ghana.
“As President of Ghana, I assure you that the Ghanaian people will continue to exercise their right to free expression to the very end, because of their determination to build a free, open society with accountable governance, no matter the cost,” he said.
Outgoing President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Roland Affail Monney, was concerned about the rise in the number of ‘at-risk’ journalists in Africa, saying “it is totally unacceptable.”
He also complained about the precarious and poor working conditions of journalists in Africa.
Former Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Ambassador Kabral Blay Amihere, was of the view the Ghanaian media, both public and private, are profoundly empowered to practice without fear or favour.
“Similarly, citizens of Ghana are also empowered to enjoy and exercise their inalienable right to free speech. These freedoms and rights, we enjoy not by our might; or by anybody’s favour or grace, but through guarantees enshrined in the nation’s 1992 Constitution,” he said.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu