The Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) has made a passionate appeal to government to re-strategize its media policy, particularly the distribution of state-sponsored adverts.
This, it said, will benefit the majority of media houses in the country and go a long way to sustain the Ghanaian media and save the industry from eventual collapse.
PRINPAG President Andrew Edwin Arthur made the call in a statement as part of this year’s World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) today May 3, 2023.
The theme for his year’s celebration is, “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for all other human rights.”
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Mr. Edwin Arthur said the Government, through its handlers must put in place a media policy that ensures all media outlets are supported to stand on their feet and to foster a close partnership and collaboration between the media and the government in the interest of the development of mother Ghana.
“We urge the Government’s media handlers not to discriminate in their dealings with the media but to open up and to bring all media practitioners and their organisations on board to promote the national agenda.”
“PRINPAG urges the Government and its media handlers to consider bringing all media houses onto a common platform, irrespective of perceived political persuasion as a way of making information readily accessible to all to avoid the situation where due to lack of information some media houses are left with no option than to engage in speculations and conjectures to survive.”
“This way, the Government and its media handlers will be promoting press freedom and pluralism of the media, which is crucial for our development in these contemporary times, not forgetting the need to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression, as enshrined in Chapter 5 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.”
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Mr. Edwin Arthur noted that this year’s WPFD emphasizes the crucial role of press freedom, media independence and pluralism as well as the freedom of expression in upholding all human rights, and marks the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day and coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Conference and its Declaration and Programme of Action on Human Rights, as well.
According to him, this year’s celebration must serve as a wake-up call to all lovers of media freedom to stand and defend media practitioners by condemning all acts that end up negatively affecting the practice of journalism in the country.
“It is also a wake-up call to all lovers of media growth to partner with the Ghanaian media and to support them in these difficult times to stand on their feet to defend our nation and our enviable democracy, which has become the toast of many in recent times.”
He saluted all media practitioners in Ghana for the sacrifices they made to take up the crucial role of media practice in a democratic society.
He assured PRINPAG will continue to uphold the fundamental human rights of all persons and also use its mediums to protect and promote the rights of all persons in the country and strictly do so by displaying professionalism and the understanding of the nuances of the journalism profession