ADDRESS BY ALBERT KWABENA DWUMFOUR, PRESIDENT OF THE GHANA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 3RD AFRICA MEDIA CONVENTION, HELD AT THE ACCRA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE, ON THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024
On behalf of the leadership of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the entire media fraternity in Ghana, I have the greatest pleasure to welcome you all to our beautiful country, Ghana, and to the 3rd Africa Media Convention (AMC). We are extremely honoured to host this august gathering of media professionals and partners, and we are excited to share the rich Ghanaian culture and hospitality with you during your stay here.
Madam Chief of Staff, the GJA is elated to be the first journalists association or union in Africa to host the AMC, after the East African Editors Forum (EAEF) hosted the first edition in Arusha, Tanzania, and the Southern Africa Editors Forum (SAEF) hosted the second edition in Lusaka, Zambia. This historical feat, coupled with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the GJA this year, gives us immeasurable pride and overflowing joy. The theme for the GJA 75th Anniversary is: “75 years of excellence in journalism: Honouring the past, embracing the present and shaping the future”. We believe the anniversary theme aligns with the focus of this convention in respect of shaping the future of journalism and the media in Africa.
The GJA is eternally grateful to the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for giving us enormous financial, logistical, diplomatic, protocol and personal support for the organization of this Convention. We are most grateful, Your Excellency. Also, we thank our partners and other sponsors for their contributions towards the organization of this event. In that respect, I wish to particularly mention the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Ghana, represented by the dynamic minister, Hon Fatimatu Abubakar; UNESCO Ghana, and the African Union.
The Honourable Chief of Staff, the theme for the 3rd Africa Media Convention is: “The African media we want: Enhancing Freedom, Innovation and Environmental Sustainability in a dynamic world”. I believe the theme offers enough food for thought, and as we deliberate on subthemes and other critical issues confronting the media during the period of the Convention, it is my conviction that we will leave this forum with solid ideas and action points to promote the good of the media in Africa. We need to work harder to enhance media freedom in Africa, and we can do with innovative approaches. One critical area we need to tackle urgently and forcefully, which is highlighted in the theme for the Convention, is environmental sustainability. The current environmental crisis can cause unimaginable damage to Africa in particular, and it is a challenge the media in Africa must rise up to deal with.
Our Revered Chief Staff, I am happy to inform this gathering that Ghana’s World Press Freedom index improved from the 62nd position last year to 50th this year. This achievement is due to a number of factors, including strong collaboration among media partners and the government to address press freedom concerns. We are very grateful to our sponsors and partners, especially the Embassy of the United States of America in Accra, for their continued support in the promotion of press freedom in Ghana. I wish to quickly add that in spite of the improvement made in our press freedom ranking, there are still some critical challenges we need to deal with, especially as Ghanaians go to the polls in December. We pray that the entire nation will protect journalists in the discharge of their duties and we also pledge to protect the interest of the entire nation with credible election coverage.
Esteemed Chief of Staff, away from the December Elections, I wish to invite our distinguished foreign participants to experience the warmth and diversity of Ghana, and to explore the many wonders that we have to offer. From our vibrant city of Accra to our stunning natural landscapes, we are confident that you will find inspiration and joy in our beautiful country.
Our Dynamic Chief of Staff, I have already rendered gratitude to the sponsors of this Convention. But permit me to also express profound appreciation to the Local Organising Committee and the Steering Committee for the 3rd AMC for their commitment and untiring efforts at ensuring the successful organsation of this Convention. We also thank the AMC Secretariat and the GJA Secretariat for their immense support.
The Honourable Chief of Staff, on that note of gratitude, I wish all the participants fruitful deliberations at the 3rd Africa Media Convention.
Thank you for your kind attention.
The post Full Text: Address by GJA President, Albert Dwumfuor at opening of 3rd African Media Convention in Accra first appeared on 3News.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS