Today, we celebrate Press Freedom Day.
Freedom of the press should not only be marked but celebrated and cherished as a vital and fundamental ingredient of democracy.
Without freedom of the press, we would all be silent; we would not be free citizens, but mere subjects controlled by whoever happens to be in power.
Freedom of the press is not a given; we should always remember that, and especially now, when the COVID-19 pandemic tempts some governments around the world to want to curtail the liberties of citizens.
Just as the press performs a civic service to all of us, we also have a civic duty towards it- namely, to always defend and be ready to fight for the freedom of the press.
According to Reporters Without Borders, during my Presidency, Ghana became the country with the highest levels of press freedom in Africa. At the time, we were ranked number one out of 54 countries in Africa. We placed 23rd on the global ranking among 180 countries.
Three and half years later, we have slumped seven places on the global ranking and lost the number one spot in Africa to Namibia and Cape Verde. We have unfortunately lost this priceless status that made all of us very proud.
This should worry us- not only journalists and media owners but all of us, as citizens and as Ghanaians.
As I said, when the freedom of the press is curtailed, democracy suffers. And all the other human rights that anchor our dignity as human beings are eroded.
Without freedom, our dignity is trampled. This is why we need a free press as much as we need fresh air to breathe.
So, let us all protect the freedom of the press.
Let us condemn the killing of journalists like Ahmed Suale, as well as the harassment of Manasseh Azure and Edward Adeti.
Let us rise up and speak against the dictatorial withdrawal of radio frequencies and closure of radio stations by the government of Nana Akufo-Addo.
Let us remind and demand of government to stop paying lip service to the Right to Information Act.
Let’s encourage, cherish and always expand the frontiers of Freedom of the Press in this digital world.
We owe it to our great and hardworking journalists – but, first and foremost, we owe it to ourselves.
I celebrate the men and women of the press in Ghana and across the globe. The threat of COVID-19 has not daunted your undying spirits. The pandemic has not prevented you from going at great; and sometimes risky lengths to bring us the stories.
You have been at the frontline of the fight against the disease. We are grateful to our press men and women.
May God bless Ghanaian journalists– and journalists, all over the world.
May we all rededicate ourselves to restoring Ghana’s once enviable position as number one in press freedom in Africa.
May God continue to bless our Homeland Ghana.
John Dramani Mahama
Cantonments- Accra
May 03, 2020.
Source: John Dramani Mahama/facebook
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when mahama makes such statement he is only throwing in the like fishing and hoping that many had forgotten everything in the past . sometimes it works. in today sensible Ghanaians the chances very minimal . People are more conciouse of themselves and rememebers more than he may assume. it got to a point where they even refused to travel with press. they had to resort to following them by themselves by racing with envoys resulting in accidents killing some journalists. they chased the stan dogbe team for years nothing was given to them. all these were in the news all over the place. today your are saying your government was what? besides these resort to marking your self ?? who will mark his own paper and give himself fail. Let Ghanaians be the judge and stop telling us what we already know.
MY BOSS WHY SO QUICK IN LYING THROUGH YOUR TEETHS.SEE HOW EASY IT IS FOR PEOPLE TO CREATE THEIR OWN STORIES, READ IT TO THEIR SELVES AND LAUGH. MR EX-PRESIDENT MAHAMA WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS NOT CORRECT, GO AND CHECK YOUR FACTS, REMEMBER WHAT YOUR RIGHT HAND-MAN STAN DOGBE DID TO JOUNALIST UNDER YOUR VERY WATCHFUL EYES. A LOT WENT WRONG UNDER YOUR DISPENSATION. NANA ADDO IS TRYING TO CORRECT BUT THOSE THINGS HAPPEND WITH IMPUGNITY HENCE THE DIFFICULTY BUT WE WILL GET THERE SOON
sha-meless and unrepentant li-ar. we are aware of your desperation for power to come and loot the country once again to enrich your greedy family. we Ghanaians will make sure this your ***barred word*** dream does not come true. greedy JM
JOHN D MAHAMAH,I COULDN,T BELIEVE MY EYES WHEN I CAME ACROSS THOSE your BO-T- FLY WORDS.IT IS TIME YOU BRIEFE GHANAIANS THOSE MONIES YOU GOT FROM THE AIRBUS, THE KARPOWER DEAL,UNCLE ATTA MILLS AND UNCLE AMISSAH ARTHUR,s death.YOUR HANDS ARE NOT CLEAN SO I SUGGEST TO YOU THAT YOU BETTER MIND YOUR WORDS.WE FANTIS WILL NEVER EVER ACCEPT YOU AND THE NDC BOOT FOR BOOT PARTY AGAIN-PERIOD.
See the irony!!Under your presidency, Stan Dogbe your protégé was slapping journalists and smashing their camerasite you didn't say and do anything about it despite a petition submitted to you by the west African media foundation. You think we have short memories??
I want to ask, so is Mahama right or wrong ? What I remember is the NPP and Nana Addo called this man a currupt person and I wonder up till now he is not prosecuted . That means all what you have been telling us in 2016 campaign is false !
Not strange where you stand. Talking about shutting down media houses, do you also advocate for media entities flouting our laws with wanton disregard? How could a media house operate without annually renewing its license as required by law for over a decade.....and you think that the agency in charge should look on? Come on my friend. If seek for equity, you must come with clean hands as they say. By the way do you know or remember someone called STAN DOGBE and his arrogant encounter with the media?
@John Mark. High John Mark, you've got it all wrong on this argument. Yes we have unemployment, housing deficit and many challenges. Nana Addo was touted as the most press freedom advocate Ghana has ever had. NDC was demonized as enemies of press freedom. Today what has changed?? No media house dare to voice out the ills this govt and see what will happen next. Today, the Clergy, Chiefs, Journalists, CSOs, Academics and Statesmen have all kept mute for fear of Nana. Today Nana Addo has become a terror and all think tanks have gone silent and the few vocal ones are trembling before him. Very pathetic. The media has been kept mute for the past 3 years with some of them being shut down and no one will speak for them. Time will tell.
J.B Danquah Adu was more important pillar than Ahmed Saule, did you comment on his death? no, because you and your party had hands in it. Secondly, no responsible person will establish a profit making business without paying tax,yet they use the stations to insult their political opponents,yet, you see nothing wrong about.If you are man, and indeed you love them pay for them and stop making that your fu00l1sh statement.
Hmmm why cant Ghanaian political leaders just ***barred word*** on our midiocure achievements. We have unemployment issues suffocating us, bad roads all over, poor academic infrastructure, serious challenge with housing, bad data base system, poor transportation systems among others and we only talk and talk. Pls don't let us just struggle for political power for personal gian but to actually fight for the betterment on the populace.