GJA awards: A testament to resilience

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) last Saturday held its 28th awards ceremony in Accra, marking the climax of its 75th anniversary celebration.

The Daily Graphic commends the GJA for holding the event and congratulates the award winners on their hard work and resilience.

The feat achieved by the award winners did not come on a silver platter judging from the difficult circumstances and the terrain under which the media operate in Ghana — issues ranging from resource constraints to poor working conditions. In truth, the remuneration regimes for majority of journalists in the country are worrying. Journalists are woefully underpaid.

But the awards are a testament that despite all the difficulties, the Ghanaian journalist is determined to fulfil his or her constitutional duties of providing accurate and timely information on national issues, enlightening citizens on various topics, promoting critical thinking and fostering informed decision-making.

However, for the 28th awards ceremony to carry any meaning or significance, we urge that all issues raised in the award-winning stories be taken up and addressed by duty-bearers and all stakeholders.

The 1992 Constitution places significant responsibilities on the media, including holding government accountable, monitoring and reporting on government actions, policies, and expenditures; promoting transparency and accountability, scrutinising public institutions and officials, advocating human rights and justice, setting the public agenda and facilitating public discourse, fact-checking, debunking misinformation, and ensuring accuracy and credibility.

Despite their crucial role in Ghana's democracy, journalists face numerous challenges, including resource constraints, poor working conditions and worrying remuneration regimes. Journalists are woefully underpaid, yet they continue to provide accurate and timely information on national issues.

The Daily Graphic has decided to bring to the fore some of the responsibilities placed on the media in the country’s democracy, because many a time some citizens think that when the media carry out these responsibilities, they are just interested in poking their nose in issues that do not concern them.

It is this ignorance that has led to many journalists, media practitioners and media organisations suffering unjust attacks from a section of the citizenry even when they are performing a duty sanctioned by the laws of the land.

The public must know that the media are there to help facilitate progress and development. By this, we do not portray that the media are sacrosanct or infallible; there are some who may not want to play by the rules for their own parochial interests.

But when that happens, we urge the aggrieved parties to use the laid down procedures to address any grievances. It is through this that we would all be contributing our quota to building a society that we all cherish.

Journalism is the lifeblood of the country's democracy and everything must be done to stamp out violence against journalists. We know, unfortunately, that the country's decline on the press freedom index was largely due to violence against journalists, and this must stop if we want to make progress as a people and a country.

As Ghana approaches the December 7 high-stakes election, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged journalists to be diligent in their coverage. The media must ensure no space is left for disinformation and misinformation.

Journalists owe it to themselves and the country to adhere to ethical journalism, factual reportage, accuracy, balance and professionalism, and we give our full support to that statement.

President Akufo-Addo stated it rightly when he said: "The story of Ghana’s democracy is incomplete without the contribution of the media. You have been there in moments of triumph and trial, standing as pillars of truth and integrity."

Ghana's democracy has become the envy of many in the West African sub-region, thanks partly to the media's role since 1992. The Daily Graphic urges journalists to stand their ground and play their role in national development, and hopes the government will continue its commitment to support the fourth estate to thrive.