President Akufo-Addo says criticising the work of a Journalist cannot be described as an attack on media freedom.
He however condemned the physical attack on Journalists in their line of duty.
Speaking in Accra at the opening of the African Journalists Leaders Conference, the President admonished the media in Africa to only report facts and not allow themselves to be used to destroy others.
He said a vibrant and unfettered media is what the continent needs to ensure development.
The two-day conference will discuss strategies to shape the media industry on the continent in response to the Covid-19 pandemic which has dealt a terrible blow to jobs and media sustainability.
The continental journalists’ leaders conference will also examine the worrisome erosion of media freedom in many countries in Africa and propose practical measures to reverse the trend. The general precarious working conditions of journalists will receive priority attention.
To this end, the conference will explore viable options to strengthen the bargaining capacity of journalist unions in Africa.
The Chairman on the Occasion, Ambassador Kabral Amihere, said it is a good time to be a journalist in Ghana. He said the 1992 constitution has guaranteed the rights of the media and encouraged them to work without fear.
The outgoing President of GJA, Roland Affail Monney, advocated the proper resourcing of journalists. He also condemned the threats on journalists asking members of the fraternity to join forces in fighting conditions which inhibit their work.
Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said impunity against journalists must be condemned and addressed on the continent.
President Akufo-Addo thanked the media for putting government on its toes. He was worried that some countries frown on or criminalise free speech. He said the tendency where journalists are physically prevented from doing their work must be condemned.
The conference is expected to come out with an Accra Declaration which will articulate the future direction of journalism in Africa.
By: Bright Ntramah.
