The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has called on the National Communications Authority (NCA) to pursue initiatives that will guard rather than dim the country’s pluralistic media. According to the GJA, Ghana has been and continued to be a reference point and the standard measure of press freedom in Africa and therefore efforts must be made to consolidate that enviable position. President of the GJA Affail Monney made the call at the launch of the maiden Central Regional GJA awards in Cape Coast.
The launch coincided with the Regional celebration of the international World Press Freedom Day. Mr. Monney’s comments comes in the wake of the NCA’s decision to shut down two media organisations in Accra for allegedly operating without valid authorisation. He said the decision of the NCA has the tendency to undermine media freedom enshrined under the 1992 Constitution.
According to him, although the GJA is not in support of the idea that media organisations should operate without valid authorisation, it is equally not happy about the manner in which the NCA handled the matter. Mr. Monney urged the NCA to show interest in transparency and publish the authorisation status of all broadcast media operators in the country.
Deputy Central Regional Minister, Thomas Adieu Baffoe, who launched the award, praised the media in the Region for its hard work and dedication and urged journalists and news makers to put in more efforts to ensure the development of the Area.
The Regional Chairperson of the GJA, Mrs. Alice Tettey, said the award is aimed at rewarding professionalism and exceptional performance of Journalists in the Region. The maiden awards will be opened to non- GJA members but subsequent ones would be restricted to GJA members only
