By Benjamin Adamafio Commey
Accra, June 7, GNA – Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Saturday called for the protection of journalists and the safeguarding of freedom of expression.
He described any attempt to intimidate, harass, arrest or suppress journalists for carrying out their constitutional duties as an attack on Ghana’s Constitution.
A free and responsible media remained essential to democratic governance, national peace and accountability, he noted, and urged journalists to uphold truth, accuracy and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
Mr Afenyo-Markin made the call at the Second Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) World Press Freedom Day Honours Night held in Accra.
Speaking on the topic: “Media as an Instrument of Peace,” the Minority Leader said history had demonstrated the consequences of the misuse of the media, citing the role of hate broadcasts during the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
“The lesson from Rwanda is seared into the conscience of humanity. When the media becomes a weapon of division rather than a bridge of understanding, nations bear the consequences. This is why responsible journalism matters,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin urged journalists, editors and broadcasters to embrace their role as instruments of peace by prioritising truth, facts and context over sensationalism and speed.
“It is not enough to be first, one must be right. It is not enough to attract attention, one must earn trust,” he stressed.
The Minority Leader expressed concern over what he described as “growing threats to freedom of speech and press freedom in the country,” claiming that within 16 months of the current administration, 14 arrests had been made in relation to speech and political commentary.
Citing the application of Section 76 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), and Sections 207 and 208 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), he said laws intended to preserve public order and protect the integrity of communication were being applied beyond their original purpose.
He referred to cases involving individuals such as David Essandoh, an organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Agona West Constituency in the Central Region, and Baba Amando, a communication officer of the NPP, who, he said, were arrested in relation to public statements they made.
Such actions created a pattern in which political speech, particularly from opposition figures, attracted arrests, detention and interrogation, he added.
“When unlawful arrests and detention are seen as a first resort in response to political expression, it creates a chilling effect on democratic participation,” he noted.
The Minority Leader warned that democracy could not function effectively if citizens, particularly members of the political opposition, feared punishment for expressing their views on matters of public concern.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said political prosecutions, or the perception of them, had no place in democratic practice and maintained that freedom of expression, tolerance of dissent and respect for differing opinions were necessary for democratic growth and maturity.
He also noted that some criminal provisions relating to false news and offensive conduct were colonial-era laws that had no place in a modern constitutional democracy, stressing that criminal law should not be the first response to speech that caused offence.
In most instances, it should not be used at all, he maintained.
While affirming his support for due process and lawful prosecution where genuine crimes had been committed, he criticised what he described as the “selective and disproportionate use of criminal prosecution against political opponents.”
“That is not law enforcement. That is the weaponisation of the criminal law against free expression, and it must be named, resisted and reversed.”
The Minority Leader called on the Attorney-General to discharge constitutional responsibilities fairly and without prejudice, and urged the Director of Public Prosecutions to ensure rigorous and independent review of speech-related prosecutions.
He also appealed to the Judiciary to remain independent and uphold constitutional principle to protect the country’s democracy.
Mr Samuel Nartey George, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, called for stronger collaboration between the Government, media institutions and journalists to combat the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation while safeguarding press freedom.
He said the rapid evolution of digital technologies and social media platforms had created unprecedented opportunities for information sharing but had also blurred the lines between journalism, propaganda and deliberate falsehoods.
“Not everything published or broadcast in Ghana today is journalism. Some of what circulates on our airwaves and digital platforms is deliberate falsehood designed to inflame rather than inform, to create fear where there should be calm, division where there should be dialogue and panic where there should be measured analysis,” he said.
The Minister assured that Government remained firmly committed to media freedom and freedom of expression so far as it did not threaten the peace and security of the country.
The event was on the theme: “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development and Security.”
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Benjamin Adamafio Commey