Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh and Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa unveiling a plaque of sponsors and donors of the project
Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC) Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh has cautioned the media in the country not to abuse the freedom of the press they are currently enjoying.
According to him, inasmuch as Ghana’s constitution assures freedom of expression “…the exercise of freedom must be done with corresponding obligations and responsibilities.”
Mr. Boadu-Ayeboafoh gave the caution in Ho, the Volta Regional capital, when he joined other dignitaries to commission the Press Centre of the Volta Regional chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
The region is the first to institute regional awards for the media, and this new project also makes the region the first to have a press centre apart from the national one.
The NMC chairman, who commended the regional body for the feat, advised media practitioners to ensure they exercised their freedoms with circumspection and not use it to destroy reputations or settle scores.
Quoting Lord Denning, Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh stressed, “The freedom of the press is extolled as one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty. It is entrenched in the constitutions of the world. But it is often misunderstood. It does not mean the press is free to ruin a reputation or break a confidence or to pollute the course of justice or do anything that is unlawful.”
Elizabeth Ohene, a former Minister of State who chaired the occasion, said inasmuch as there should not be any form of obstruction against the media in the discharge of their work, the media should ensure what they put out does not cause “irreparable damage” to people.
Ms Ohene who is a veteran journalist of international repute praised the Volta GJA for the initiative and encouraged members to set the right agenda to transform the country.
The National President of the GJA, Roland Affail Monney, said the historic feat of the Volta chapter was “fruit of quality, progressive, and dynamic leadership”.
The Press Attaché at the United States Embassy in Ghana, Naomi Mattos, encouraged journalists in the country to ensure their freedom of expression is used to empower citizens so they could better hold governments accountable and influence the development of the country.
The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, said government has always shown commitment to press freedom and media development, hence the release of land for the project.
Chairman of GJA-Volta, Anthony Bells Kafui Kanyi, expressed gratitude to all who supported in making the “impossible possible”, especially media practitioners and media houses in the region.
From Fred Duodu, Ho (k.duodu@yahoo.com)