Akufo-Addo charges media to be a catalyst promoting sustainable environmental practices in Africa

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May 17, 2024
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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has underscored the need for the African media to take a proactive role in educating the public on climate change issues, especially among the youth, to promote environmental sustainability.

He said it was imperative for the media to mobilise the people towards collective action, drive innovation and promote sustainable environmental practices on the continent.

In his address during the closing ceremony of the 3rd African Media Convention (AMC) in Accra on Friday, May 17 2024, he indicated that freedom of the media was fundamental to the growth and development of any democratic society, therefore it was crucial for the media to uphold not just accuracy, but also integrity and ethical standards that respected the dignity of all individuals.

The President highlighted some legislations and interventions that helped to promote press freedom in Ghana, including the repeal of the criminal libel law in January 2001 and the enactment of the Right to Information Act in 2019.

Those interventions, he explained, had made a positive impact on the development of Ghanaian media, freeing it from unnecessary self-censorship and promoting critical media culture in the country.

It had also contributed to the growth of a vibrant media, and significantly helped to deepen the country’s democracy, he added.

To enhance public accountability as a strategic goal in public policy, the President said, his government enacted the Right to Information Act, as a major step in deepening the country’s democratic agenda, providing the citizens with essential content, and ensuring accountable governance.

The impact of media freedom, he noted, had improved the quality of projects, and fostered a culture of transparency.

In that vein, he said, Ghanaians were able to freely interrogate the government’s actions, policies, and programmes.

“The Ghanaian media is ranked as one of the top countries in the Global Press Freedom Index. Today, the media stands at the crossroads of present challenges and opportunities. As we navigate the complexities of evolving, the media’s role becomes even more useful, not just as a guardian, but as a catalyst for sustainable development and innovation,” the President observed.

President Akufo-Addo said the freedom of the media was fundamental to the growth and development of any democratic society in Africa.

However, he said that freedom should not merely be the ability to speak or write freely, but also the power to inform and mobilise society for a common goal.

Therefore, it was crucial for the media to uphold not just accuracy, but also integrity and ethical standards that respect the dignity of all individuals.

The three-day Convention is on the theme: “The African Media We Want: Enhancing Freedom, Innovation, and Environmental Sustainability in a Dynamic Media Landscape”.

The event brought together about 2,000 participants across the continent, including policymakers, Ministers of State, academia, researchers, and media practitioners.

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September 16, 2024
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1 minute Read

Police outlines rules guidelines for NDC’s nationwide demonstration against EC

The Ghana Police Service has provided guidelines and rules to oversee the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s planned nationwide demonstration against the Electoral Commission (EC).

The police stressed the need for peaceful and lawful conduct during the protests, emphasising that demonstrators must follow designated routes and timelines.

The Service made this known at a press conference on Monday, September 16.

The protest by the NDC is against the EC’s rejection of the party’s recommendation to audit the voter register ahead of the December election.

The police also highlighted the importance of collaboration with organisers to ensure public safety, urging participants to refrain from violence or property destruction.

They cautioned against destruction to property which may lead to surcharges as security personnel will be deployed across all demonstration routes to maintain order.

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September 16, 2024
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3 minutes Read

Western leaders complicit in Africa’s corruption- Okyenhene

Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the Okyenhene, has stated that Western leaders and their economies cannot be absolved from the corruption that plagues Africa.

Speaking at a lecture themed “Sustainable Leadership in African Governance” at the University of Bradford’s School of Management, he argued that the actions and inactions of Western leaders contribute significantly to the corruption on the African continent.

According to the Okyenhene, many Western countries have become safe havens for corrupt African politicians who stash away their ill-gotten wealth without scrutiny.

He illustrated this point by comparing the stringent checks imposed on ordinary citizens when depositing money in banks, noting that African leaders are able to move vast sums into foreign accounts without being questioned.

“If I go to the bank with $15,000 today, the teller would immediately alert the manager to inquire about the source of the money. But African leaders can deposit far more in foreign banks without facing any probes. Why should this be the case?” he questioned.

Osagyefuo expressed concerns that many African leaders not only deposit vast amounts of money abroad, but also invest heavily in real estate in foreign countries without being asked about the origins of these funds.

He called on Western nations to hold African leaders accountable for such investments, insisting that global leadership must be bold in questioning these financial dealings.

He urged leaders to embody a servant leadership model, reminding them that true leadership is about service, not personal gain. “Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first must be a slave. That is what the Son of Man did: He came to serve, not to be served,” Okyenhene stated.

Okyenhene expressed disappointment in the lack of decisive action from world leaders to fight climate change.

He criticized the major nations that contribute the most to carbon emissions, accusing them of failing to take the necessary steps to combat the growing climate crisis.

“They sit around tables, sip tea, and laugh, yet no concrete solutions are provided to tackle climate change,” he lamented. Okyenhene warned that the world was fast approaching an environmental catastrophe, adding that humanity’s unrelenting pursuit of material wealth is exacerbating the crisis.

He referenced scientific data to illustrate the urgency of the situation, pointing out that carbon dioxide concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere have reached alarming levels, rising by 47.3% since the Industrial Age and an additional 11% since 2000.

“If the current rate of emissions continues, he cautioned, the air we breathe by 2040 will contain more than 50% carbon dioxide, making life on Earth increasingly difficult. This should terrify us all,” he said. “Our children may face far shorter lives than we do, and it cannot be business as usual,” he stressed.