Akologu pledges to partner media to expand frontiers of freedom

Accra, July 21, GNA - Mr John Tia Akologu, Minister of Information on Wednesday pledged the Ministry's commitment to partner the media in expanding the frontiers of freedom and strengthening public accountability.

He explained that the Ministry had and would continue to engage positively with the media, and urged the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to promote high journalistic standards.

Mr Akologu made the pledge when the National Executive Committee of the GJA held discussions with him on the fallout from the Police charging the management of JOY FM "on publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public".

The GJA delegation was led by its Vice President, Mr Affail Monney and included General Secretary, Bright Blewu; Organising Secretary, Dave Agbenu; Treasurer, Mrs Linda Asante-Agyei and Legal Advisor, Mr Kwasi Afriyie-Badu.

The Minister's team was made up of his Deputy, Mr James Agyenim-Boateng and Mr Stan Dogbe, a Presidential Aide.

A statement issued and signed by Mr Affail Monney, Vice President of GJA said after four hours of fruitful deliberations, the GJA restated its position that criminalisation of speech in any form would undermine the credentials of Ghana as a beacon of freedom of expression and democracy.

It therefore, requested the Minister to impress upon the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to re-look the decision to maintain a charge against the management of Joy FM under the Criminal Code of 1960.

However, the association agreed that there were questions about media accountability that must be tackled and recommended to the Ministry to continue to make use of the National Media Commission in dealing with such matters.

Both sides agreed to collaborate to use best practices to promote media accountability.