The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has recounted taking up the responsibility to discontinue pending prosecutions, under the Criminal Libel Law, against ace journalists Kofi Coomson, Tommy Thompson and Eben Quarcoo.
Until the discontinuation, the trio were being prosecuted for various publications against personalities of the then government.
“I am proud of the modest role I played in the process of the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law. As the Attorney-General, who piloted the repeal through Parliament, I was also responsible for the discontinuation of the then pending prosecutions, under the Criminal Libel Law, of notable Ghanaian journalists Tommy Thompson, Kofi Coomson and EbenQuarcoo for publications against personalities of the then government,” the President said.
“Even as one of the public figures most persistently vilified in sections of the Ghanaian media, who, ironically, was a principal actor in the repeal of the law, I continue to insist that its repeal was necessary in the public interest in our emerging democracy. I maintain that I prefer a boisterous, reckless media, to a supine one,” he added.
As the Attorney General under the erstwhile Kufuor administration, President Akufo-Addo piloted the repeal through Parliament, of the Criminal Libel Law, and is proud today he did that.
Addressing the Africa Journalists Leadership Conference on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 President Akufo-Addo noted that the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law has had a very positive impact on the development of the Ghanaian media.
This, he added, has freed the Ghanaian media from unnecessary self-censorship and promoting a robust and critical media culture.
“In the process, it (the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law) has contributed to the growth of a vibrant media that has won Ghana the reputation of having one of the most media friendly and liberal climates on the continent.
“It has also contributed significantly to the deepening of democracy in our country, enhancing public accountability as a strategic goal of public policy,” President Akufo-Addo said.
President Akufo-Addo, who was giving a keynote address at the event, organised by the Federation of African Journalists and held in Accra, opined that a vibrant and unfettered media is the most effective way to hold government and society to the highest standards of honesty, self-discipline and delivery.
The President told the gathering that he has seen to the passage of the Right to Information Act, which is meant to give effect to Article 21(1)(f) of the Constitution of the Republic.
The culmination of all of these, he said, have meant that the Ghanaian citizen, through the presence of a dynamic media, is able to give boldly and freely his or her feedback on policies and programmes of government.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo says critiques proffered by citizens and officialdom on the work undertaken by the media can in no way be described as “an attack on media freedom”.
According to him, when journalists are physically attacked or prevented from doing their work, no matter where in the world it takes place, that is an attack on media freedom and must be roundly condemned by all.
However, the President explained, “there seems to be an emerging narrative,which is being proffered by some in Ghana, that critiquing the work of a journalist constitutes an attack on media freedom. That certainly cannot be described as an attack on media freedom.”
In the same address, President Akufo-Addo commended the media for its role in the co-ordinated fight against the coronavirus pandemic across the continent.
According to President Akufo-Addo, “we have recently had a good example of how the media can be a force for good and that was manifested in how we have been dealing with COVID-19.
“Journalists did and continue to do a yeoman’s job in the public education of the citizenry about COVID-19 and vaccination efforts across the continent. Journalists, in this instance, were, and are partners, to governments across the continent, and, through this joint effort, have helped save the lives of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of African citizens. I pay homage to the efforts of journalists,” he added.
As the chairman for the occasion, Amb. Kabral Blay Amihere, briefly shared some perspectives on where the African press is coming from and where it is now and where it should be going.
Having worked as a journalist and media activist from 1976 to 2001, he gained insights and experiences from working under both military dictatorships and constitutional multi-party rules.
Against that background and even more, Amb. Kabral Blay Amihere indicated that, in those decades, press freedom in most parts of Africa was under great siege, making journalists one the most endangered species on this earth.
He continued that: “The general citizenry was not spared the suffocating grip of governments on their right to free speech. The term Culture of Silence was coined to describe the era of unhindered governmental suppression of free press and free speech in Ghana”.
In his view, the Ghanaian media, both public and private are profoundly empowered to practice their chosen profession without fear or favour.
Similarly, citizens of Ghana are also empowered to enjoy and exercise their inalienable right to free speech.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Roland Affail Monney, saluted“all journalists in Africa who defy daunting odds and exhibit insoluble will, manifest unconquerable spirit and exemplify scrupulous regard for the principles of the profession as they hold people in positions of power to account, expose acts corruption, keep the public meaningfully informed and oil the wheels of democracy. Your inestimable sacrifices will not be in vain.”
By Maxwell Ofori&Wilhelmina Love Abanonave
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