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President Akufo-Addo salutes Ghanaian journalists at 28th GJA Awards
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has lauded the critical role of Ghanaian journalists in the country’s democratic journey, during his speech at the 28th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards, held on Saturday, 28th September 2024.
This event marked 75 years of excellence in Ghanaian journalism, under the theme “75 Years of Excellence in Journalism: The Role of the Media in Democratic Governance and Elections.”
Delivering the keynote address, President Akufo-Addo expressed his gratitude for the media’s unwavering commitment to truth, transparency, and accountability. He highlighted how journalism in Ghana has not only borne witness to historical moments but actively shaped the nation’s progress, particularly in its fight for independence.
He recounted how early journalists fueled the fires of freedom and encouraged national unity through their fearless reporting during colonial times.
“Long before the celebrations of 6th March 1957, journalists were already playing a crucial role, using their pens and their voices to fuel the fires of freedom,” the President remarked.
He referenced notable figures such as Dr. J.B. Danquah and Osagyefo Dr.Kwame Nkrumah, who, in addition to their political activism, were journalists. He said, their work laid the foundation for Ghana’s independence movement, inspiring a spirit of resistance against colonial rule that could not be silenced.
The President also touched on the media’s indispensable role in Ghana’s democratic governance, emphasizing how the press has been instrumental in shaping the nation’s democratic culture.
According to the President, the media was crucial during the restoration of democracy in 1992, educating the public on their rights, informing them about political processes, and ensuring transparency in governance.
“The story of Ghana’s democracy is incomplete without the contribution of the media. You have been there in moments of triumph and trial, standing as pillars of truth and integrity,” the President stated.
He credited the Ghanaian media for their diligent work in monitoring electoral processes, reporting on irregularities, and ensuring peaceful transitions of power.
In the modern context, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged the new challenges journalists face, such as disinformation, misinformation, and the rising influence of social media.
He called on journalists to be vigilant in their role as gatekeepers of truth, particularly as the country prepares for the 2024 elections.
“The responsibility of the media during elections cannot be overstated. You have been at the forefront, monitoring the polls and ensuring that the voices of the electorate are heard,” he said, urging the media to continue to act with integrity and uphold professional standards.
As the event also marked President Akufo-Addo’s last attendance at the GJA Awards as President of the Republic, he shared a personal reflection on his journey alongside the media throughout his career. He recounted his legal battles to protect press freedoms, such as the historic court case against the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to ensure fair access to state media, and his work as Attorney General in repealing the Criminal Libel Law in 2001.
He concluded his speech by expressing his deep commitment to ensuring media freedom in Ghana, describing it as a cornerstone of democracy. As he prepares to retire from active political life, President Akufo-Addo extended an invitation to journalists to visit him in Kyebi, where he looks forward to continuing his engagement with the media and reflecting on the country’s democratic progress.
In his final remarks, President Akufo-Addo reminded journalists of the importance of their work: “The media has always been, and will continue to be, a cornerstone of our democratic journey. Your work is essential to the strength of our democracy, the integrity of our elections, and the progress of our nation.”
The awards ceremony, which brought together the finest journalists in the country, was a fitting tribute to 75 years of Ghanaian journalism and its vital role in shaping the nation’s democratic governance.
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Swallowed by the Sea! …Keta’s coastal lines, landmarks, efforts to preserve heritage
The Atlantic Ocean is no longer a distant blue horizon for the people of Keta.
It now circles around their doorsteps, uninvited, unrelenting, pulling down walls and other structures, erasing memories, and threatening lives.
Hovering precariously between the restless sea and the Keta Lagoon, this once-thriving coastal town is slowly being obliterated.
Salt water has become both a physical and metaphorical threat, dissolving the town’s past as fast as it claims its future.
Madam Aku Atitso, 62, lives in a crumbling former Prisons Service quarters – one of the few structures still standing on the eroded stretch of Queen Street.
She sits quietly at the entrance, preparing a modest breakfast for herself and her granddaughter.
The air is thick with salt and silence. “The sea took everything,” she says softly. “My husband’s nets, our mattress, our memories all gone overnight.” Her voice trembles. “This place too is dying. But it’s the last place with a roof over my head.”
A few metres away, Aunty Esinam, 79, watches the sea from a low stool beside a wooden shelter. Her eyes do not blink. “That spot,” she points, “used to be someone’s living room, a whole family lived there”.
It’s not just homes that are vanishing. Landmarks that anchored Keta’s cultural identity are disappearing one after another. The once-imposing Fort Prinzenstein, a haunting relic of the transatlantic slave trade is now more of a ruin than a monument.
the encroaching waters along Keta’s
coast.
encroaching waters along Keta’s coast
The colonial-era Bremen factory, the old cinema where generations of children once laughed at flickering black-and-white films is also gone.
Queen Street, once the town’s bustling backbone, is now a watery corridor choked with debris.
Standing atop a section of the sea defence wall, 69-year-old retired teacher Efo Kwasi Agbeko surveys what remains.
“The first police station is mostly gone,” he says, gesturing part of the building stuck in the sea sand, only ruins and a few rooms remain.
“This town is fighting, but the sea is winning,” he said.
Even the Cape St. Paul Lighthouse, Keta’s historic sentinel, leans perilously toward the water, and fishermen say holes in the shore are opening more frequently, sometimes every week.
That leaves a thick cloud of uncertainty hanging around the historic town of Keta.
Once upon a time, it was a vibrant town noted for business but currently left with ruins with a few of the residents watching in awe the sea’s devastation.
From: Geoffrey Kwame Buta, Keta, Volta Region
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Ghanaians climax Easter with fun-filled activities
Christians around the world and other faith based groups last Monday climaxed the Easter celebration with a number of fun-filled outdoor and indoor activities.
With streets empty, fun seekers stormed church premises where picnics were held while others partied in many ways.
Others spent the day at the various beaches and music and film shows occupying the others.
velleyball competition
at the Laboma Beach
Church in Tema Community 8 engaged
in a number of activities including the
popular draught competition
At the churches, participants engaged in bible reading, football, volleyball, playing cards, table tennis, horse racing, bouncing castles, swimming and oware.
one of the picnic venues
Others played ludo, tag of war, lime and spoon, draught, music competitions among others.
The Spectator captured some of the exciting scenes around Accra-Tema for the benefit of readers.
Story & pictures by Victor A. Buxton
