The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called for a national effort to rescue Ghana’s mainstream media from decline, warning that the rapid spread of social media has disrupted traditional journalism and weakened the foundations of professional news practice.
Speaking at the 29th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards Dinner at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, the Asantehene said while social media had initially been celebrated for democratizing information, it has also unleashed “a fireball of uncontrollable velocity” that now threatens the integrity and survival of traditional journalism.
“The mainstream media that has been the bulwark of our cultural history is cocooned in intensive fighting for its last breath,” Otumfuo observed. “Tonight, we need to raise a national call to save the mainstream.”
He lamented that the rise of unregulated digital platforms had thrown the media landscape into confusion, eroding long-standing professional standards that had sustained journalism as a respected institution of civilization.
“What was initially celebrated as the democratization of information has left mankind groping for order,” he said. “Social media has left the mainstream media reeling for survival.”
The Asantehene emphasized that the GJA Awards should not only celebrate excellence in journalism but also serve as a moment for national reflection on the future of the media industry amid technological and ethical challenges.
“For me, the GJA Awards night is more than a celebration of deserving practitioners. It should be a moment of deep national significance; a moment for reflection and soul-searching on the daunting challenges of our age,” he said.
Tracing the historical role of the Ghanaian media, Otumfuo highlighted its central contribution to the nation’s political evolution; from the anti-colonial struggle to the consolidation of democracy, describing the media as a “critical pillar for national cohesion and prosperity.”
“We owe a great deal to the media, even if historically we have failed to invest adequately in its growth,” he said. “The freedoms we take for granted today are ours because of the sacrifices made by journalists at various stages of our history.”
The Asantehene also paid tribute to the late Professor Paul Lévi-Ansin, in whose memory the Journalist of the Year Award is dedicated. He praised the late academic and journalist as a symbol of courage, fairness, and integrity, values he urged contemporary journalists to uphold.
“We should continue to hail journalists who are prepared to speak truth to power,” he said. “But journalistic courage must be matched with integrity, fidelity to truth, and a moral compass that respects the values of our tradition.”
Otumfuo’s remarks concluded with a call for collaboration among government, media stakeholders, and civil society to protect professional journalism and ensure that it continues to serve as the conscience of the nation in an era dominated by misinformation and digital disruption.
The 29th GJA Awards, held under the theme “Building Trust in the Media for National Development,” brought together President John Dramani Mahama, ministers of state, media professionals, and traditional leaders to celebrate excellence and integrity in Ghanaian journalism.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Isaac Justice Bediako
