In a landmark address at the 3rd African Media Convention (AMC), the Chief of Staff of the Republic of Ghana, Honorable Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to bolstering media practitioners and professionals across the country.
Speaking on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Honorable Osei-Opare underscored the crucial role of the media in advancing democratic governance and shaping public discourse.
She emphasized the essential nature of government support in enabling the media to fulfill its democratic mandate.
“The media is a vital pillar of democracy and plays a pivotal role in informing, educating, and empowering citizens. We must recognize the invaluable contributions of journalists and media organisations and ensure they have the support they need to carry out their work”.
Honorable Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Chief of Staff of the Republic of Ghana
Furthermore, Honorable Akosua Frema Osei-Opare highlighted the government’s recognition of the media’s critical function as the fourth estate of the realm.
She stressed the necessity for enhanced resources and support to empower the media sector to address contemporary challenges effectively.
Among these challenges, she listed include issues such as press freedom, misinformation, and environmental sustainability as areas requiring urgent attention and collaborative effort.
In calling for a united front in tackling these issues, Honorable Ose-Opare underscored collaboration between government, media stakeholders, and civil society as an imperative way to address the pressing challenges facing the media landscape.
Moreover, the Information Minister-designate and former Deputy Minister of Information, Honorable Fatimatu Abubakar, who also serves as Co-Chair for the Convention in complementing the Chief of Staff’s remarks reiterated the government’s dedication to improving the country’s media industry.
Honorable Fatimatu Abubakar outlined various initiatives undertaken by the New Patriotic Party administration aimed at enhancing media capacity and combating misinformation.
Honorable Abubakar elaborated on specific government programs designed to support the media, including capacity enhancement initiatives that equip journalists with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the evolving media landscape.
She highlighted efforts to develop robust mechanisms to combat misinformation, thereby ensuring the dissemination of accurate and reliable information to the public.
“We recognize the vital role of the media in our society and are committed to providing the support and resources needed to ensure journalists can perform their duties effectively”.
Honorable Fatimatu Abubakar, Information Minister Designate
In addition, the Information Minister Designate emphasized the incumbent government’s commitment to do all it can to fortify the media ecosystem and uphold its pivotal role in advancing democracy, promoting accountability, and fostering sustainable development.
Prioritizing Environmental Sustainability
The President of the Ghana Journalist Association, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, speaking at the same event urged colleagues’ journalists and all media professionals across the African country to prioritize environmental sustainability in the discharge of their work.
Mr Dwumfour emphasised the critical role of the press in promoting media freedom and environmental sustainability in Africa.
He thus urged African journalists to adopt innovative approaches to strengthen media freedom, highlighting the importance of a robust, independent press in fostering democratic governance and accountability.
Mr Dwumfour also commended the government of Ghana, under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, for its unwavering support of press freedom, emphasizing that the support from the government has been instrumental in creating a conducive environment for journalists to operate without fear of intimidation or harassment.
The African Media Convention, a key event on the continent’s media calendar, provided an opportunity for robust discussions on the future of media in Africa.
The convention, which brought together over 2,000 media practitioners, policymakers, scholars, and stakeholders from across the African continent, served as a platform for discussing the pivotal role of the media in fostering democracy and driving societal change
Participants deliberated on strategies to strengthen media freedom, enhance journalistic standards, and promote sustainability within the industry.
READ ALSO: ICJ Urged To Order A Halt To Israel’s Rafah Assault
