Previous President John Mahama suggests Ghana dropping 7 destinations on the world rating when it will come to push independence need to not only be a supply of be concerned to journalists and media entrepreneurs but to citizens as effectively.
This, he claimed is mainly because when the freedom of the push is curtailed, democracy suffers and all other human legal rights that anchor a person’s dignity as a human being are eroded.
In his message to Ghanaians to mark this year’s Planet Press Independence Working day, the NDC flagbearer stated press freedom is not a provided and should, for that reason, be appreciated especially as the “Covid-19 pandemic tempts some governments around the planet to want to curtail the liberties of citizens.”
He urged Ghanaians to mark the working day by speaking up versus what he explained as the “dictatorial withdrawal of radio frequencies and closure of radio stations by the Akufo-Addo govt.”
According to Mr Mahama, the advancement has influenced the drop in the country’s press flexibility international ranking.
He reported individuals will have to also “condemn the killing of journalists like Ahmed Suale, as well as the harassment of Manasseh Azure and Edward Adeti.”
“According to Reporters With no Borders, in the course of my Presidency, Ghana grew to become the state with the best concentrations of press freedom in Africa. At the time, we were ranked range 1 out of 54 international locations in Africa. We placed 23rd on the global position among 180 nations around the world.
“Three and fifty percent many years later, we have slumped 7 destinations on the world-wide rating and shed the range a single spot in Africa to Namibia and Cape Verde. We have however dropped this priceless position that built all of us pretty happy,” he reported.
Mr Mahama who is trying to find re-election immediately after one time period in workplace as president also made use of the occasion to rejoice media personnel for their undying spirit and willpower to maintain people educated through the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We owe it to our fantastic and hardworking journalists – but, initially and foremost, we owe it to ourselves.
“I celebrate the adult males and ladies of the press in Ghana and throughout the world. The risk of COVID-19 has not daunted your undying spirits. The pandemic has not prevented you from going at great, and occasionally risky lengths to provide us the stories.
“You have been at the frontline of the struggle in opposition to the illness. We are grateful to our pressmen and gals,” he claimed.