Journalists to school on law

Accra, Feb. 24, GNA - Thirty-five journalists drawn from five regions in the southern sector of the country are to participate in a two-day workshop on the theme: "The Journalist and the Law" at Swedru in the Central Region.

A statement on Friday by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) signed by Mr Bright Blewu, General Secretary, said the workshop, scheduled for Monday, February 27, was the GJA's response to "the spate of civil libel suits and the heavy damages against journalists and media organisations found guilty."

Topics to be treated at the workshop include 'Press Law and Rights of Journalists - The Universal and National Concepts'; 'The Law of Defamation: Causes and Effects' and 'Ethical Challenges of the Post-Criminal Libel Law Regime'.

Others are the 'Legal Challenges of Post Criminal Libel Law Regime'; 'Dangers and Effects of Civil Libel Suits' and the Freedom of Information Bill.

The statement said resource persons at the workshop include Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu and Professor Kofi Quashigah, both of the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon. It said other resource persons were Dr Bonnah Koomson of the School of Communication Studies of the University of Ghana; Mr Ace Ankomah, a private legal practitioner and Lecturer, Ghana School of Law and Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, Editor, Daily Graphic.