President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has urged journalists to uphold the ethical and professional standards of the profession, warning that press freedom can only be sustained when the media continues to earn public confidence.
He said the GJA had a responsibility to protect journalists, provide professional support and defend legitimate media work, but practitioners must also play their part by maintaining the standards that give journalism its credibility.
Mr Dwumfour made the remarks at the GJA’s 77th anniversary symposium and lecture on Wednesday, August 19.
He stressed that the association’s ability to defend the reputation of journalism depended largely on the conduct of journalists themselves.
“The association cannot defend the credibility of journalism if journalists themselves are unwilling to uphold the standards that make that credibility possible,” he said.
According to him, the anniversary celebration provided an opportunity for the association to assess its achievements while reflecting on the responsibility of its current leadership to strengthen the institution for future generations.
Mr Dwumfour described GJA leaders as custodians of an institution built over the years through sacrifice, advocacy and commitment to journalism.
“Our duty is to strengthen what we inherited and leave an even stronger association for those who will come after us,” he said.
He said the GJA had played an important role in promoting press freedom and creating an environment where journalists could work without intimidation, fear or undue interference.
He noted that the association had collaborated with governments, state institutions, civil society groups, development partners and media organisations to improve journalism and strengthen professional capacity.
These efforts, he said, included training programmes, workshops, conferences and engagements designed to equip journalists with the skills required to operate effectively in a changing media environment.
Mr Dwumfour also highlighted the GJA’s interventions in cases involving attacks on journalists, saying the association had consistently engaged relevant authorities whenever the safety or freedom of media practitioners was threatened.
“We have spoken against attacks on media practitioners and engaged relevant authorities whenever the safety and freedom of journalists have been threatened,” he said.
He linked the association’s advocacy for journalists’ safety and press freedom to Ghana’s standing on the World Press Freedom Index.
The GJA President, however, cautioned journalists that defending press freedom must be matched by responsible journalism, stressing that accuracy, ethics and credibility remained critical to the continued relevance of the profession.
He urged media practitioners to protect the values of journalism and recognise that public trust was one of the profession’s most important assets.
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