The government has announced plans of instituting a special mechanism to scale up the protection of media practitioners in the country in the ensuing months.
A release issued on the occasion of this year’s World Press Freedom Day said the “Coordinating Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists” would be introduced before July.
“The protection of media practitioners is also to witness a boost with the introduction of a Coordinating Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists before July,” the release signed by Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said.
Additionally, it said the Government was in the process of implementing a Media Capacity Enhancement Programme (MCEP) to boost the capacity of media practitioners in the delivery of their mandate.
“The Government of Ghana reiterates its commitment to supporting measures that deepen the frontiers of free expression in the advancement of our democracy,” the statement said.
The World Press Freedom Day is marked annually to recognise the contribution of journalism to democracy and development and to press home the critical issues on press freedom and safety.
This year’s international celebration was marked in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa on the theme “Media for Democracy, Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation.”
According to the statement, this year’s theme acknowledged the risk of disinformation and thus admonishes media practitioners to adhere to factual reportage at all times.
“As the world commemorates World Press Freedom Day today, the Government of Ghana congratulates the media and journalists for their contribution to nation building,” the statement said.
BY TIMES REPORTER
