The National Security Ministry will collaborate with the Ghana Journalists Association, (GJA), to ensure that all Ghanaians are safe and protected.
The two established the joint partnership when the Executives of the GJA paid a courtesy call to the National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah.
The meeting was to re-engage with the ministry and explore opportunities on both sides. At the meeting, the GJA President, Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, called for deeper collaboration between the Ministry and the GJA so that they can work together as far as issues of national security are concerned.
Mr. Dwumfour, also urged the Minister to help train journalists on safety and security. Mr. Dwumfour called on the Minister to ensure a constant engagement of the media to promote peace and stability in the country.
He suggested to the Minister to organize an annual press soiree in order to bring both institutions together to share issues of national security and other important matters concerning the country.
The GJA President also made it known to the Ministry of its new initiative, “See something, say something to a Journalist” which would be launched in early 2023, calling on the Minister to support the initiative since the Ministry had also started a similar initiative. He believed that because the work of the media and that of national security were similar, a collaboration between the two would help promote issues of mutual concern.
For his part, National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah acknowledged that the media was very powerful and that collaborating with the GJA will help promote the peace and stability the ministry seeks to promote in the country.
He observed that the only institution that has real independence to hold the government accountable is the media, therefore urging the media, through the GJA, to ensure it holds the government accountable in its dealings.
Despite admiring the work of the media, Mr. Kan-Dapaah expressed concern about the use of vulgar language by some media personalities in their quest to address certain issues.
According to him, he was not against criticism, but how some media personalities do it of late was an issue of concern.
He said although some veteran journalists can really ‘bite’ while addressing national issues, they do not insult anyone in the process, cautioning those who do that to put a stop to it.
Touching on the welfare of Journalists, the Minister encouraged the GJA to ensure that all journalists are paid and do not depend on monies given to influence their work.
In response, the GJA President stated that the organization will eliminate “yellow journalism” and ensure that journalists work within the bounds of the ethics of the profession. He was of the belief that capacity building and human capital development will help journalists to be informed, adding that it will help them to discharge their duties effectively.
