The Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Ms Rebecca Ekpe, has urged journalists to deepen their understanding of media laws and ethical standards to minimise legal risks associated with their work.
She said while Ghana’s Constitution guarantees media freedom, journalists must exercise those freedoms responsibly by verifying information, respecting individual rights and correcting inaccuracies when necessary.
Ms Ekpe made the call at the opening of a five-day residential training on legal frameworks governing media practice in Ghana, organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA).
The programme, supported by DW Akademie and the European Union, also saw the launch of a GH¢544,000 Legal Support Fund aimed at providing assistance to journalists facing legal challenges in the course of their legitimate professional duties.
Ms Ekpe said the legal protection available to journalists must be matched by a strong commitment to professional responsibility.
Referring to Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution, she noted that the media enjoyed constitutional protection to report, investigate and express opinions, but journalists were equally required to operate responsibly.
She urged practitioners to uphold fairness, provide divergent views, respect people’s rights, maintain high journalistic standards and offer corrections or the right of reply where appropriate.
According to her, adherence to professional standards would help journalists avoid unnecessary legal disputes while strengthening public confidence in the media.
Ms Ekpe commended the MFWA for combining legal training with the establishment of the support fund, describing the initiative as timely in view of the challenges journalists face in carrying out their duties.
She said fear and intimidation could discourage journalists from performing their constitutional responsibilities, adding that access to legal assistance could help protect both journalists and media freedom.
The GJA Vice President also called for greater engagement with government institutions to improve understanding of responsible journalism, including issues relating to media literacy, news framing and agenda-setting.
Dr Kojo Impraim, Programme Director of the MFWA, said the training was designed to help journalists understand the legal framework governing their work, their rights and available mechanisms for seeking redress.
Giving an overview of the Legal Support Fund, Dr Daniel Kwame Ampofo Adjei, Programme Manager of the MFWA, said applicants would be required to demonstrate that the publication or journalistic activity concerned was connected to legitimate journalistic standards and the public interest.
Applicants would also be expected to provide evidence of the legal threat for which support was being sought.
Ms Ama Kodjo, Programme Director of DW Akademie-Ghana, presented a dummy cheque for GH¢544,000 and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to helping journalists operate in a safe professional environment.
The training brought together media practitioners from across the country to examine legal issues affecting journalism, including legal risks, digital rights and avenues for redress.
Also present were Mr Abdulai Awudu, President of the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), and Mr Jeorge Wilson Kingson, Executive Secretary of the Private Newspapers and Online Publishers Association (PRIMPAG).
