Journalists across the country have been assured of a conducive environment as they go about their duties as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, President John Dramani Mahama has said.
As a committed member of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mahama said it will not be under his watch that journalists will seek asylum elsewhere because of threats to their lives due to their work.
He reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to free, safe and efficient media, indicating there is no way he will tolerate any form of intimidation, interference or attack on practitioners.
President who has been applauded both in the past and present for accepting dissenting view and criticisms said under his stewardship he will ensure journalists practice their profession without fear or favour.
His position is a clear departure from the government he succeeded which made the practice of journalism a difficult task.
Quoting from Ghana’s first President Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s speech to back his committement to media freedom he said “My administration will uphold that vigilance to safeguard press freedom, to protect journalists and ensure that it remains the foundation of governance.
Under my government, no journalist would have to flee into exile for fear of their lives. Together, government, media and citizens we can build the Ghana that is ethical in governance, honest in speech peaceful in spirit and united and purpose. May the pen always remain mightier than fear, may truth continue to light our path and may God continue to bless our homeland Ghana”.
Under that administration, the likes of investigative journalist, Manasseh Azuri Awuni, David Tamakloe, had to flee out of the country for fear of their lives after breaking a number of stories that brought the image of the government into disrepute.
Another investigative journalist, Ahmed Hussein Suale with the Tiger Eye investigative team, was assassinated after a legislator and now presidential hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ken Agyapong, displayed his face on live television and instructed that he be beaten.
Later he was shot around his house at Madina in Accra while returning from work. Suale was working with award-wining journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas and more than 6 years on, his killers are yet to be found and brought to justice.
Anas himself whose principle of investigative journalism trumpeted in opposition by then opposition leader Akufo-Addo found himself wanting after the NPP came to power. For years, he failed to come out with any investigative piece after he was dragged to court by Ken Agyapong.
By Gifty Boateng