President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour has urged Politicians to see and treat the media as its partners and or stakeholders but not enemies.
He said this when the leadership of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), called on the GJA in Accra on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 for a collaboration between the two towards national development.
The Leadership of the NDC paid a courtesy call to the GJA to familiarise themselves and discuss their vision, plans, and readiness to collaborate with the media in championing national interest and also to contribute to national development.
In response, Mr Dwumfour commended the Leadership of the NDC as the first political party to pay a courtesy call on the GJA to strengthen bonds between the two key institutions.
Mr Dwumfour urged Politicians to stop preventing Journalists from carrying out their duties, and rather report to the GJA those who exhibit unprofessionalism while discharging their duties.
“Attacks on journalists by politicians and others have become rampant and we hope to collaborate with you and let you know that we are partners in national development, we are collaborators, so therefore we will need to see ourselves as partners or as stakeholders and not as enemies,” he said.
He observed that even at the Assin North by-election, some politicians prevented some journalists from carrying out their duties and were denied access to a press conference, pleading with the political parties to put a stop to it.
Despite having affiliations, Mr Dwumfour noted the media has been objective, and demonstrated maturity and fairness in its reportage, saying that the media play a critical role in national development, especially in carrying out issues to the public.
He therefore cautioned that the GJA will condemn any political party that seems to prevent journalists from carrying out their duties.
“We will call on you and we will do the same with other political parties that stopping and embarrassing and preventing the media from carrying its work is not the way to go, we will rather urge that you report reckless journalists to us,” he said.
He also called on the politicians to support the media in protecting free expression to help shape the political will of Ghanaians.
The GJA President also advised Politicians to avoid hate speeches, remarks misinformation, and disinformation of the public to prevent Ghana from experiencing the coups and conflicts happening in neighboring countries.
He assured that the media will ensure coverage of events while gearing towards the 2024 elections, saying the GJA will ensure that all political parties are given fair coverage to champion their interests or messages to the people of Ghana.
He also called on the leadership of the NDC to extend partnerships to its members with all corporations they can afford including allowing access to its leadership for interviews, and protection of journalists during their programmes and campaigns, adding that the welfare of journalists is the priority of the GJA and therefore it will not compromise on anything that is an affront to press freedom.
Mr Dwumfour again assured to support all stakeholders in protecting Ghana’s democracy.