By Rebecca Ekpe
‘’The real accountability institution is the media. The power you wield as Journalists, you will let Ghana down if you do not exercise it properly. The future of the country is with key vertical institutions, such as the Media.”
These were comments made by the National Security Minister, Kan Daapah, when the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, GJA, Albert Dwumfour, paid a courtesy call on him at the Ministry in Accra.
GJA President:
The primary aim of the visit was to create an opportunity to better understand the work of the National Security Ministry in real time and to introduce the new Leadership of the Ghana Journalists Association, made up of Linda Asante Agyei, Vice President; Kofi Yeboah, General Secretary; Organizing Secretary, Dominic Hlodzi; Treasurer, Audrey Dekalu and Public Affairs Officer, Rebecca Ekpe.
Mr. Dwumfour outlined programs of the GJA since the new leadership took office in July, culminating in the Flagship 26th GJA Awards, held in November 2022.
The GJA President spoke of the Association’s priority to enhance the welfare of members through ensuring their Safety and Security and by building their capacity to enhance capabilites and ensure their adherence to professional standards.
The Journalists Support Fund, he said, would also provide supportive legal aid to ensure that cases of assault on Journalists among others, are resolved more timeously.
On the ‘’See Something, Say Something to a Journalist’’ project, Mr. Dumfour explained that the aim is to trigger an avenue where ‘’citizens can volunteer information to Journalists”. Besides complementing the work of the state, it is also intended to provide an avenue for information flow, education and engender national discourse.
”We see ourselves as key partners in Development,” the GJA President posited.
National Security Minister:
It was clear that Journalists and National Security Operatives have similar mandates in ensuring the provision, distribution and access to public goods and services, and this point was clearly illustrated and articulated by the National Security Minister, Kan Daapah.
”Cut the insults, it does not help anybody, it goes against the State,” he said.
The National Security Minster was optimistic the two bodies can work together for the public good.
The Minister challenged Journalists to suggest constructively and impart knowledge in ways that would serve the overall good of the people.
He specifically spoke of the rule of law and said it is very important to ensure respect for protocols in the discharge of the work of the Journalist to promote civility and harmony in society.
National Security Coordinator:
The National Security Coordinator, Edward Asomani, also acknowledged that the media play a critical role in national development and, for that matter, in protecting the peace and security of the people.
He explained that the National Security’s primary role of ensuring human security means that conversations about inclusivity, tolerance, openness, and cooperation would have to dominate the ecosystem, and journalists, that is, the GJA must set the agenda in this regard.
‘’We therefore have to work closely together to ensure that the partnership with the media is productive…..Besides, ‘a strong Association that can hold its members to account is very critical,” Mr. Asomani posited.