A group calling itself the Student Journalists For Truth, has condemned former President John Dramani Mahama over his inaccurate comments last week that Ghana was ranked number in Africa for press freedom during his time as President.
The former President made the claim in a video message last week, which he also accused the Akufo-Addo government of poor press freedom record which has caused Ghana the number one position.
Mahama’s claims, has however, been found to be false.
In a strongly worded press statement, the group totally condemned the former President for falsehood, which they have described as repulsive and unacceptable.
“The Students Journalists For Truth (SJFT) has noted with repulsion, an unfortunate falsehood peddled by former President of our country, John Dramani Mahama, on no other day than World Press Freedom Day,” the group said in the statement.
The group has alsk demanded an apology from former President Mahama “to set the records straight” and also to stop the false claims from becoming a “misleading reference point for younger generations because it was peddled by a former President.”
Below is the full statement:
MAHAMA MUST APOLOGISE FOR PEDDLING FALSEHOOD TO THE PRESS ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
The Students Journalists For Truth (SJFT) has noted with repulsion, an unfortunate falsehood peddled by former President of our country, John Dramani Mahama, on no other day than World Press Freedom Day.
In a video mesaage on Sunday May 3 to mark World Press Freedom Day, former President Mahama said: “During my tenure as President of Ghana, we became the country with the highest levels of press freedom in Africa. At the time, we were ranked number one out of 54 countries in Africa. We also placed 28 in the global ranking among 180 countries. Three and half years later, wr have slumped seven players on the global ranking, and lost the number slot in Africa to Namibia, and Cape Verde.”
The above categorical statement by former President Mahama is a complete lie and as young students of journalism and communication, we find it completely unacceptable that the highest-ranking former official of our country would conveniently peddle such gaping falsehood.
What is even more repulsive is the fact that the former President chose a day meant to celebrate press freedom to peddle such falsehood for his parochial, political considerations.
The World Press Freedom Day is a day specially set aside to celebrate the sanctity of the press, which includes independence, accountability, objectivity and most importantly truth.
It is rather unfortunate that on a day meant to celebrate the press and highlight one of its most important elements, former President Mahama chose to desecrate the day by using the press to peddle falsehood.
We cannot fathom what could have motivated the former President to confidently peddle such a lie when incontrovertible records clearly show that Ghana was never ranked number in Africa as far as press freedom is concerned during his time as President.
As young student journalists, we are encouraged by the bold step by a section of the media to point out the unfortunte misrepresentation by the former President through fact-checking.
The West Africa Media Foundation has also come out to state that what former President Mahama stated was untrue.
Finally, we wish to call on the former President to apologise for the unfortunate untruths he peddled to set the records straight. These lies, if left uncorrected, would become a misleading reference point for younger generations because it was peddled by a former President.
Upholding press freedom is also about speaking truth to the public, especially by high-ranking public officials as the former President.
Indeed facts are sacred!
SIGNED
SALIM ZIBLIM
(PRESIDENT)
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
