Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, has told journalists to protect the peace and security of the country with their reports ahead of the 2024 general elections.
She asked the journalists to practice responsible journalism.
She said these while delivering the keynote address at the 27th edition of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards which was themed: “Leveraging Media Freedom to Sustain the Democratic and Security Architecture: The Litmus Test of Election 2024.”
She said “The exercise of your power and freedom in the lead-up to the 2024 election could potentially make or break our nation’s cohesion.
“This is a sobering truth. Therefore, your commitment to ensuring the peace and security of our country as we go to the polls in December 2024, should go beyond mere rhetoric to practicing responsible journalism,” she said on Sunday.
She furthers them as the Fourth Estate, not merely a facet of the nation’s democracy, but its bedrock.
“You’re the beacon of truth, you’re the guidance of transparency, and you’re the vanguards of freedom and catalyst for informing and shaping public debate. With your role and the nation’s support and protection comes great responsibility.
At the event, journalists and media organisations that excelled in the year 2022 were honoured.
Media General’s News and Current Affairs programme, Ghana Tonight, was adjudged as the best. Godwin Asediba of TV3 also won the TV news feature award. A News Editor with 3news.com/ TV3 News, Eric Mensah-Ayettey won the Columnist of the year with an article published on myjoyonline.com last year as part of his Eric’s Diary.
Other journalists who won awards were; Anthony Adongo Apubeo – GNA, Beatrice Senadju – GBC, Della Russel Ocloo – Daily Graphic, Vivian Adu – Atinka Media, Fred Duhoe – CitiTV, Akua Oforiwa Darko – GBC, Gifty Adjei – GBC, Alberto Mario Noretti – The Mirror, Seth Bokpe – The Fourth Estate, Emma Davies – MultiMedia Group, Mohammed Fugu – Daily Graphic, Kweku Bolton – GBC, Francisca Enchil – Freelance, via Joynews.
27th GJA awards: Outstanding journalists and media organisations to be honoured
The rest are; Edward Adeti – The Fourth Estate/Media without Borders, Emmanuel Dzivenu – Joy Prime, Efia Akese – The Mirror, Kester Aburam Korankye – Daily Graphic, Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman – EIB network, Felix Dela Klutse – Pent Media Centre, Neta Kris Abiana Parsram – Multimedia Group, Doreen Ampofo and Collincia Ayifa – Student journalist via Multimedia Group.
Erastus Asare Donkor of the Multimedia Group won the P.A.V Ansah Journalist of the Year 2022. He succeeds Media General/TV3’s Portia Gabor who won the coveted award in respect of 2021.