Gov’t Salutes Journalists On Press Freedom Day

THE GOVERNMENT of Ghana has on the occasion of the 2019 edition of the World Press Freedom Day Celebration, congratulated journalists in Ghana for their contribution towards nation building.

This year’s celebration is being marked in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, under the theme: “Media for Democracy, Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation.”

On Friday, May 3rd, the Ghana Journalists’ Association (GJA) is holding a forum to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day.

Government in a statement signed by Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, says it was “…in the process of implementing a Media Capacity Enhancement Programme (MCEP) to boost the capacity of media practitioners in the delivery of their mandate.”

It says “the protection of media practitioners is also to witness a boost with the introduction of a Coordinating Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists before July.”

According to the statement, “finally, this year’s theme acknowledges the risk of disinformation and thus admonishes an adherence to factual reportage always.”

Meanwhile, the Government of Ghana has reiterated its commitment to supporting measures that deepen the frontiers of free speech.

Ghana recorded a dip in its press freedom ranking this year for several reasons including the murder of investigative journalist, Ahmed Suale.

BY Melvin Tarlue