Prof Audrey Gadzekpo, Dean at the School of Information and Communication Studies of the University of Ghana has disclosed that Ghanaians must hold President Akufo-Addo accountable to his commitment to ensuring press freedom.
Prof Gadzekpo’s statements follow the President’s speech at the University of Cape Coast where he discounted claims on the culture of silence.
According to her, it is “very reassuring that the President in his speech is reassuring Ghanaians of the government’s commitment to press freedom and we can hold him to that”.
Speaking in an interview, Prof Audrey Gadzekpo revealed that although there’s a pervading belief that “there is a price to pay if you are too overtly critical of the government, it is not just media people who pay the price, I imagine”.
“It’s people who have certain aspiration, people who work in certain places. But I do think that sort of instinct has always been there”.
Critics refrain from public discourse
Additionally, Prof Gadzekpo explained that, due to that perceived culture of silence, most critics have reservedly refrained from commenting on setting issues because “one would have to pay the price for speaking out.”
This, she explained, has resulted in most individuals being more cautious of their comments in public.
That notwithstanding, she stated that, Ghanaians must be more vocal instead of remaining silent.
“We are in institutions and when people speak up in institutions… why do you think we have whistleblower laws? You know when people speak up in corporations, including Mr Sam Jonah’s Corporation; there are all these cultures of silences that can spring up and we need to encourage people to speak up more.
“I think that I sense a certain frustration from the President’s speech. That sometimes when politicians push back at criticisms robustly, it’s seen as silencing and he thinks that, that is unfair because if you are criticized; you have the right to defend yourself. You have the right to come back”.
Culture of silence, perceived
Owing to this, Prof Gadzekpo disagreed that the country is reeling in an era of culture of silence. According to her, the assertions are perceived and not real.
“What you don’t have the right to do, and I think in the President’s speech he affirms it, is to attack people, you know to go pick up people in the middle of the night and those things which we associated with the culture of silence.”
President Akufo-Addo in his speech, gave a firm assurance that the protection of fundamental human rights and press freedom, is a major priority of his government. As such, he will never endorse the culture of silence.
The President reiterated that nothing would make him change his long-held views on the importance of fundamental human rights.
Also, the President affirmed his commitment to upholding human rights and press freedom in line with the tenets of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, respect for the rule of law, freedom, and justice.
