The Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU), Ambassador William Hanna, has commended Ghanaians for building very vibrant Press Freedom and Democratic Governance in the country.
He noted that the media in Ghana has contributed in no small way to the improvement of democratic governance in the Country and urged the media to strive to consolidate upon its services but not be complacent for what it has achieved so far.
Ambassador Hanna made these remarks in a speech he delivered at a ceremony organized by the Ghana Journalists Association in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day in Accra on May 3, 2017.
In congratulating the media for its role in the development of the country, he stated that Ghana is being watched by the whole world with respect and appreciation for her outstanding democratic credentials.
He noted that this year both Ghana and the EU are marking 60 years as a country and a Union respectively.
There were messages from the Director General of UNESCO and a Representative on the Coalition of the Right to Information Bill.
In separate addresses, the Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Sarah Adjoa Sarfo; the Minister of Information, Hon. Musapha Hamid and the Minority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, all gave the assurance that the Executive and the Legislature would do whatever was necessary to pass the Right to Information Bill and Broadcasting Bill by the end of July, 2017.
The ceremony was chaired by Nana Kwasi Gyan Apenteng, Chairman of the National Media Commission.
The theme for this year’s World Press Freedom Day celebration was: Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s Role in Advancing Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies.
May 3 is set aside every year to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, defend the media from attacks on their independence and pay tribute to Journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
Over 100 national celebrations take place each year to commemorate this Day. UNESCO leads the worldwide celebration by identifying the global theme and organising the main event in different parts of world.
The International Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the 26th Session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991.
This in turn was a response to a call by African Journalists, who in 1991 produced the landmark Windhoek Declaration on media pluralism and independence.
