SPEECH DELIVERED BY ALBERT KWABENA DWUMFOUR, PRESIDENT OF THE GHANA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION, AT A NEWS CONFERENCE HELD AT THE GHANA INTERNATIONAL PRESS CENTRE, ON MARCH 13, 2025, TO DISCUSS MATTERS ARISING IN THE MEDIA INDUSTRY
Members of the National Executive of the GJA,
Colleague media practitioners,
Distinguished invited guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Good afternoon to you all.
On behalf of the National Executive of the Ghana Journalists Association, I wish to welcome you all to the Gifty Afenyi Dadzie Conference Hall of the Ghana International Press Centre, and to thank you for honouring our invitation.
Colleagues, on 17th February, 2025, we updated you and the entire nation on happenings on the media front and how the GJA sought to address them. Today, we are here to update you on some recent developments in the media and the response of the GJA to those matters.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are in our national Heritage Month. The month is an opportunity for us to reflect on our past, celebrate our present, and build a better future. It’s a time to honor our ancestors, our traditions, and our cultural values.
The media plays a vital role in shaping our national identity and promoting our cultural diversity. Through our various platforms, let us use the power of the media to reach millions of people, by educating and enlightening them about our heritage. It is our duty to promote our heritage.
Latest Attacks Against Journalists
Ladies and Gentlemen, the latest attacks, which occurred on 21st February, 2025, were against three journalists in the Western Region. They were brutally assaulted by illegal small-scale miners (galamsey operators) operating in Breman Adomanya Forest. They are Theophilus Akwasi Agyei Annim of Citi FM / Channel One TV, Henry Emil Fynn of Angel TV and Jacob Adu-Baah of ABC News / Rok FM. They were covering the extensive destruction of the forest as a result of galamsey activities when the thugs pounced on and brutalised them. In the process, the attackers caused severe bodily harm to the journalists and also damage to their equipment.
This attack is barbaric and we condemn it in no uncertain terms. We understand that one suspect has been arrested and is currently facing trial at Asankragwa. We also understand that some money has been lodged with the Police in Asankragwa covering the cost of the equipment damaged and that the court has ordered the said money be given to the journalists to replace their damaged equipment and enable them to get back to work.
The GJA demands full justice for the three journalists, and in that regard, call for the following:
1. The Police and the court must ensure that the suspects in this dastardly act face the full force of the law and that the victims are adequately compensated.
2. The case must be transferred from Asankragwa to Sekondi, the regional capital, in order to enable the victims to participate in the court proceedings. Given the poise of the galamsey operators to cause more harm, it is not advisable for the victims to be going to Asankragwa for court sittings.
3. The Police in Asankragwa must find a way of transferring the money lodged with them to the victims without the journalists traveling to Asankragwa to collect the money since their safety and security cannot be guaranteed.
The GJA commends the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for its statement on the attacks on the journalists and its assurance of working to check illegal mining and support for journalists to continue shedding light on the illegal mining activities. We however entreat the Ministry not to relent on its efforts to ending galamsey as the GJA will be monitoring its actions and inactions towards the fight.
Still on galamsey related issues, the GJA reiterates its position on illegal mining which it has echoed severally at various platforms particularly at our last GJA Awards at the Accra International Conference Centre and also through the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey which the GJA is a key member.
Ladies and gentlemen, the galamsey menace is still with us. Our forest reserves, water bodies and farmlands are being destroyed and degraded with reckless abandon, all in the name of gold mining. In the mining communities, law and order are crumbling under the weight of impunity, with associated human rights abuses, adverse and forced possession of individual lands and farms while the decentralized administrative arms of government and traditional authorities seem to be helpless.
We welcome the assurances and commitment of President Mahama towards the fight against galamsey and it is our prayer that he will not relent or give up but honour his promise of stopping the illegal mining in the country. He can count on the full support of the GJA and the Media Coalition in ending this life threating canker.
Mr. President, the time to act is NOW!!!
We reiterate our condemnation of all illegal mining activities and demand for urgent steps to be taken to tackle the issues head-on. There should be strict enforcement of all mining laws and regulations without any concessions, as well as the imposition of maximum sentences on offenders.
This is a reliable approach to addressing this issue. The GJA urges the media to continue to bring the galamsey issue to the fore until the menace is eliminated. As indicated in previous press conferences, we will not stop highlighting the issues until Galamsey stops. #STOP GALAMSEY NOW!
Court Shuts Down Esewani Community Radio Station
Colleagues, there is a disturbing development that tends to undermine media freedom in the country and needs to be addressed promptly before it gets out of hand.
The Kade District Court Presided over by His Worship Mr. Emmanuel K. Boadu granted an interim injunction ex parte, directing Esewani Community Radio, Esawani Information Centre and Sir Plan Information Centre, all situated at Asuom in the Eastern Region, to cease operation until the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) assesses their noise permissible levels.
The Plaintiffs are the Krontihene of Asuom, Nana Boadi Amponim Obodade; the Kyedomhene of Asuom, Nana Deibour II, and Abusuapanin Abosi Agyei.
Their case is that the operation of the Esewani Community Radio and the two information centres have become nuisance to the community due to the noise they produce and that excessive noise can lead to neurosis and nervous breakdown.
Colleagues, as a law-abiding institution, the GJA respects the decision of the district court but we strongly disagree with the court in granting such a gagging order.
It is our contention that the Kade District Court erred in law in granting the order for interim injunction ex parte because it granted the order regardless of the fact that the Plaintiffs did not demonstrate to the court that the level of noise pollution generated by the three mediums of mass communication is above the permissible level of noise by regulation.
We also disagree with the district court because it ordered a 10-day closure of the community radio station and the two information centres and at the same time directed the EPA to assess their permissible noise level. The question is: how will the EPA assess their noise level when they are not in operation?
Indeed, we believe the court did not carefully consider the grounds for the interim injunction before granting same. In that conviction, we have urged the management of the community radio station to take legal steps to quash the interim injunction.
Colleagues, some few days ago, one of the plaintiff’s was heard on tape, threatening to get the Minister of Communication to revoke the license of Esewani Community radio station even if the court Injunction expires or is quashed.
We believe that, in an adversarial justice system like we have in Ghana, and considering the parties in the matter, the court should have put the defendants on notice in the worst-case scenario. The GJA does not see the urgency in this case that leads to the granting of the Interim Injunction.
The guarantee of freedom for the media is one of the cornerstones of the Republican Constitution and that any attempt to deny such a fundamental freedom should be a source of worry to every democracy-loving citizen.
Note that, Article 162 (3) provides that: “There shall be no impediments to the establishment of private press or media; and in particular, there shall be no law requiring any person to obtain a license as a prerequisite to the establishment or operation of a newspaper, journal or other media for mass communication or information”
Colleagues, from the narrative above, we’re convinced that, the decision of the Lower Court offends the letter and spirit of the Supreme Laws of Ghana, the Constitution 1992.
At this junction, we respectfully call on the Chief Justice to take particular interest in this case because it has the tendency to undermine trust and confidence in the Judiciary, as well as freedom of expression and the media. We intend to petition the Chief Justice accordingly.
Ladies and gentlemen permit me to commend the National Security Coordinator, Mr. Abdul-Razak Osman for showing commitment toward the safety of journalists. The GJA’ s recent engagement with the Coordinator is reassuring in our efforts to end attacks on journalists and the fight against galamsey.
World Press Freedom Day 2025
Colleagues, last year, we brought innovation into the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) by organizing the annual ceremony in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital. It was the first time in recent memory that the national commemoration of WPFD was held in the regions.
I wish to inform you that this year, we will pull through yet another innovation in the commemoration of WPFD. In that regard, we have decided to use the occasion to honour distinguished individuals and institutions that have championed and supported the cause of the GJA in particular and the media industry in general. So instead of the usual daytime activities to mark the occasion, this time round, it will be an evening event with the highlight being the honourary awards to deserving individuals and institutions. The event is scheduled for 2nd May, 2025, and we believe this format will add great impetus to the commemoration of WFPD in Ghana.
4th Africa Media Convention
Colleagues, you may recall that last year, Ghana hosted the 3rd Africa Media Convention (AMC) which brought together key players in the media industry from across Africa and beyond. The Accra convention has been touted as the best since the inception of the AMC. This year, the 4th AMC will take place in Marakesh, Morocco, from May 29th – 31st, 2025.
This annual gathering of media practitioners, policy makers academics and stakeholders across the continent provide critical platform to discuss and shape the future of the media in Africa. We hope Marakesh will build on the huge success chalked up in Accra. We encourage media institutions to endeavour to participate in such international activities.
Issues of National Concern
Colleagues, in line with our commitment to use our periodic news conferences to address, at least, one national issue we deem critical, today, we turn attention to the absence of streetlights on the major roads across the country. movement on our roads at night has become a threat to life.
Apart from leading to accidents on our roads, including knockdown of pedestrians, the absence of streetlights also fuels criminal activities, especially in quiet areas. We respectfully call on the Department of Urban Roads and Ghana Highway Authority, as well as other relevant authorities, to fix the streetlights in order to save lives and bring back night life in our major cities.
Long live press freedom in Ghana!
Long live GJA!!
Long live Ghana!!!
Thank you for your kind attention.
Source:
3news.com
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