2011,world press freedom day

Commentary on World Press Freedom Day-2011

Press Freedom is generally seen as the right guaranteed by the first amendment to the U.S Constitution to publish and distribute information in books, magazines and newspapers without government intervention. World Press Freedom Day which was instituted by a U.N. General Assembly Resolution is observed globally to highlight the principles of Press freedom and remember those who fought and died trying to exercise them.

For the first time in world history, the US is partnering UNESCO to host the day at Washington D.C on the theme: “21st Century Media- New Frontiers, New Barriers”. The day is significant not only to media practitioners, but everybody considering the fact that, 84 per cent of the about six-point nine billion people in the world live in nations where the media is partly free from government control or not free at all. Besides, there is also an overwhelming response to the growing popularity of internet based applications such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Blogs. Leaders in democratic and authoritarian states have no qualms in admitting that the establishment and fostering of an independent, pluralistic and vibrant media is the cornerstone of development.

Unfortunately, as the global community marks World Press Freedom Day today, the Journalists Memorial at Newseum in Washington D.C is adding the names of 59 journalists who died in 2010 to eighteen others who died earlier this year to the list of the over two thousand deceased journalists worldwide. Aside from this, 75 journalists are being held in Turkey for trying to expose rot in the country. The story of the eight journalists who were attacked in Uganda recently whilst trying to report on the walk-to-work campaign in protest against fuel price hikes is still fresh in our minds.

In Ghana, many still remember the story of the murder of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the GJA in 2006, Samuel Anim. The truth is whilst lovers of democracy see free and unfettered flow of information as the lifeblood of a joyful and functioning world, the same cannot be said of dictators and criminal cartels. US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton said it all when she stated that when a free media is in jeopardy, all other human rights are also threatened. Also, a blogger described the five days that former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak blocked mobile phone communications and internet access in an attempt to stifle press freedom, as a period when Egyptians lived in a big prison.

The good news is that Ghana has made significant strides with press freedom in the last decade. Surprisingly the Global Press Freedom rankings for 2011 released yesterday by Freedom House ranked Ghana 54 and Mali 45 on the list of 196 countries. This ranking makes Mali the number one country in Africa with the freest media followed by Ghana which occupied the first position in 2009 and 2010. The level of freedom enjoyed by Ghanaian journalists is not in doubt. Records at the National Media Commission indicate that Ghana has over a thousand registered newspapers, 200 Radio Stations and ten T.V. stations with 25 channels besides the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. The Criminal Libel and Sedition laws have been removed from the law books. Also the Whistle Blower Act is now operational in the country. Ghana’s Parliament is also leaving no stone unturned to get the Freedom of Information Bill passed into law. There is therefore no justification for anybody to feel intimidated for what he or she writes or says.

As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day today one will want to remind journalists of the need to be guided by their professional ethics and be mindful of the Nation’s cultural diversity as they try to gather and disseminate timely and accurate information. The time has also come to take a second look at the powers of the NMC and the resources that are allocated to the commission so that it can function effectively.

The Ghana Journalists Association must also fast-track its unionization process to bargain for better working conditions for media practitioners to avoid the current practice where some journalists have become bootlickers and remote-controlled devices for politicians. Long live Ghanaian Journalists, Long live all media practitioners, Long live Ghana.

BY: GEORGE ASEKERE OF GBC- RADIO NEWSROOM IN ACCRA