UNESCO Representative to Ghana, Edmond Moukala, has described a free and independent media as a critical pillar of nation-building, urging journalists to protect the principles of press freedom as the media landscape continues to evolve.
He said the media had a responsibility not only to inform the public but also to strengthen democratic institutions, promote accountability and give citizens a voice in national affairs.
Mr Moukala made the remarks at the 77th Anniversary Symposium and Lecture of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Accra on Wednesday, August 19.
Reflecting on Ghana’s democratic development, he said journalists had played an important role from the country’s independence struggle through to the consolidation of constitutional democracy.
According to him, the press had helped shape public consciousness, provided platforms for national discourse and amplified the concerns of citizens seeking greater participation in governance.
“A free and independent press is not a luxury afforded by democracy. It is the very necessity upon which nation-building is predicated,” he said.
Mr Moukala said the contribution of the media to Ghana’s democratic credentials could also be seen in its coverage of elections, investigations into corruption and scrutiny of public officials and institutions.
He noted that by bringing issues of public concern to the attention of authorities and demanding answers from those in positions of power, journalists had helped strengthen accountability in the country.
However, he said the media could not rely solely on its historical achievements, particularly at a time when digital platforms were rapidly changing how information was produced, distributed and consumed.
Mr Moukala called for “honest introspection” among journalists and media organisations to assess how the profession could remain effective and relevant in the digital era.
He said the future of digital media would require the profession to preserve the values established by earlier generations while embracing innovative tools and approaches that would enable it to serve the public better.
He therefore urged journalists to continue upholding press freedom, accountability and public service, stressing that these principles remained essential to the media’s contribution to Ghana’s democratic development and nation-building.
