The Ghana United Nations Association (GUNA) has appealed to the Communications ministry to reconsider the decision to shut down radio stations who have been unable to renew their operating license.
According to the group, the action of the NCA has the potential of impoverishing journalists since they will be out of jobs if their media houses are closed down.
In a statement to commend journalists on ‘international day to end impunity and crimes against journalists, the group said media practitioners are key in the development of a nation.
“Democracy cannot thrive in any civil society without the journalist and media platform, hence GUNA is calling on all Ghanaians to protect the noble profession of journalists. We are also calling on all political parties to discipline their followers to see the journalist as agents of development thus, advance national security, peace and development,” portions of the statement said.
Below are details of the statement
The Ghana United Nations Association (GUNA) wishes to celebrate and honour hardworking journalists in Ghana who have braved the storm in bringing to the fore very critical issues of national interest to the ordinary Ghanaian.
Journalists play a very critical social function in every society by interfacing the government of the day and the citizens. By the nature of their job, howbeit difficult and dangerous, they inform and educate the populace of the workings of government policies, as well as activities and programs in every sector of the economy.
Yet, in their quest to inform and educate the populace about the happenings in our society, a number of journalists have suffered serious injustices and mortal abuse by politically aligned thugs and hooligans, public officials and agencies even to extents, where some of them have lost their lives in the line of duty.
It is also important to note that, journalism can only thrive and run on a media platform, hence the more the media outlets there are, the closer the populace are to quality information. Hence, we call on the National Communication Authority (NCA) to reconsider its decision on the closure of media houses since that act will consequently render thousands of journalists jobless and more so obliterate free speech which is one of the cardinal principles in the practice of democracy.
Democracy cannot thrive in any civil society without the journalist and media platform, hence GUNA is calling on all Ghanaians to protect the noble profession of journalists. We are also calling on all political parties to discipline their followers to see the journalist as agents of development thus, advance national security, peace and development.
Source: Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5FM