The Ministry of Information is working with stakeholders to roll out a national coordinated mechanism for the safety of journalists, Mr Pius Enam Hadzide, Deputy Minister of Information has said.
He said there was also a media capacity enhancement bit in the national mechanism, which was tailored to ensure professionalism and a good working environment for media practitioners in the country.
He said the Ministry was under strict instructions by President Akufo Addo, to continue to work to create the conducive environment for the practice of unimpeded professional journalism and development enhancement journalism.
“And this is a charge, being kept seriously”, Mr Hadzide said at the 24th Ghana Journalists Association Awards programme held in Accra.
The awards programme that formed part of the 70th anniversary celebration of the GJA, was on the theme: “Democracy, Freedom and Independence of the Media in Ghana: 70 years of GJA’s Contribution”.
Six staff of the Ghana News Agency won awards including; the “Dr G. T. Anim Award for Ethics in Journalism 2018, picked by Mr Kwaku Osei Bonsu, Acting Director of Editorial.
The Agency was also recognised as the Best Online media of the Year.
While congratulating the GJA and all awardees for their meritorious service to the nation, Mr Hadzide said the Ministry was working assiduously to ensure that the Right to information law was implemented to help promote better information flow.
He added that the 2020 national Budget had made some allocation towards the implementation of the law.
The Ministry, he said recognised the important contribution of the media in disseminating information to the Ghanaian citizen.“The contribution of the media in creating and sustaining functioning democracies and the potential it has as a catalyst for local development is key for the development of our country.
“Free, independent and pluralist media empowers citizens with information that enables them to make informed choices and actively participate in the development process”.
Emphasizing the important role of the media, the Deputy Minister said, media practitioners helped in enhancing accountability by facilitating dialogue between decision makers and the rest of society.
He tasked the media to continue to deepen democracy in the country by positively criticizing and reporting on policies that would enhance peace, unity and development.
By Lydia Kukua Asamoah, GNA
