Uphold highest level of integrity …GJA, PRINPAG to journalists on Press Freedom Day

and journalists and prefer criminal charges over civil remedies for press and speech o enses that are merely defamatory.

The arbitrary application of these laws only serves to instill fear in the general populace.

To ensure that free speech is always protected, it is essential that journalists, who are the vanguards of free speech, receive all the support they require to carry out their duties without hindrance or compromise.”

According to him, under his stewardship, the GJA has established the Journalists Support Fund (JSF). The Fund will provide legal services to journalists whose rights have been violated while performing their duties. It will also assist in providing training and seminars on safety and security to our members to improve their safety and security. The fund will also be used to support or cushion retirees.

On his part, the President of the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), Edwin Arthur, stated that this year’s World Press wake-up call to all lovers of media freedom to stand up and to defend media practitioners by condemning all acts that end up negatively a ecting the practice of journalism in this country.

Further, he noted it must be a wake-up call to all lovers of media growth to partner the Ghanaian and to support them in these dicult times to stand on their feet to defend our nation and our enviable democracy, which has become the toast of many in recent times.

By Eugene Davies

opportunity to urge the Government’s media handlers to be proactive and to engage media owners, editors and senior journalists the more in an attempt to save the Ghanaian media from dying.”

A former GJA President, Mrs Gifty

A enyi-Dadzie, indicated that media owners need to seriously reect on the acquisition of delayed broadcast equipment to help sieve the contributions of those who call-in to programmes to make one contribution or the other as well as a panelist who goes overboard to throw a bomb.

According to her, one other organ that could help sanitize the political campaign environment is the GJA’s Ethics and Disciplinary Council which is mandated to promote high ethical standards among members of the Association in the performance of their duties, enforce the GJA code of ethics, and investigate allegations of unprofessional conduct and ethical breaches of the Association.