Acting Director of the Directorate of Public Affairs of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Dr. Kwabena Antwi-Konadu, has stressed that a vibrant, responsible and professional media is critical to national and global development, urging stakeholders to address growing concerns about declining standards and unregulated practices in the industry.
He made the remarks in an exclusive interview with ATL FM News to mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day, observed globally on May 3 under the theme: “Shaping a Future of Peace”.
Dr. Antwi-Konadu, a former media practitioner, described the media as a “force to reckon with”, explaining that its contributions to human rights promotion, environmental protection, corporate accountability and good governance make it indispensable to society.
“Media cannot be taken away from the equation of national development and even global development,” he said, adding that “a responsible press helps expose corruption, bad governance and harmful cultural practices, thereby paving the way for solutions to societal challenges”.
He noted that although the global media landscape is performing creditably, particularly in its watchdog role, the industry faces significant challenges, especially in developing countries such as Ghana.
According to him, one of the major issues confronting the media is the lack of strict entry requirements into journalism, which allows individuals with little or no professional training to practice.
“No journalist needs a licence to operate, which is a good thing in terms of freedom, but it also comes with challenges,” he explained.
He further indicated that “people without adequate knowledge of journalism enter the field, and if regulations are weak, their excesses create problems.”
Dr. Antwi-Konadu pointed out that in Ghana, the situation is worsened by high levels of illiteracy and limited understanding of media ethics, leading some practitioners to assume expertise in multiple areas without the requisite knowledge.
He also expressed concern about the blurring lines between professional journalism and social media activity, noting that the rise of digital platforms has made it increasingly difficult to distinguish credible journalism from unverified content.
“Today, someone can simply pick up a microphone or camera and begin to operate as a journalist without understanding even the basics of news production or ethics,” he said. “The ethics are thrown overboard, and that is a huge challenge.”
Despite these concerns, he maintained that the media continues to play a powerful and indispensable role in societal development, particularly in promoting accountability and transparency.
Call to media owners and regulators
Dr. Antwi-Konadu called on media owners to prioritise professionalism over profit, cautioning against excessive commercialization and sensationalism.
“Media should not only be about attracting audiences; it must also be about responsible journalism,” he said, urging owners to recruit qualified professionals and offer better remuneration to enhance performance.
He further emphasised the need for continuous training, noting that even individuals without formal journalism education can become competent professionals through structured on-the-job training.
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“Training, continuous training, is very important. Some of us entered the profession without formal education initially but allowed ourselves to be trained and imbibed the values of journalism,” he stated.
On regulation, he called for stronger collaboration between the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the National Media Commission (NMC) to address excesses while safeguarding press freedom.
While cautioning against overly restrictive controls, he stressed that freedom of expression must go hand in hand with responsibility.
“I don’t subscribe to hardcore regulations that suppress expression, but the media must be properly regulated to ensure professionalism and ethical conduct,” he said.
He also highlighted the role of the Ministry of Information in strengthening government communication and promoting ethical standards in the media space.
Dr. Antwi-Konadu urged journalists to commit to professionalism, ethical conduct and continuous self-improvement, noting that Ghana operates within a global media environment and must meet international standards.
“The best thing any practitioner can do is to take the profession seriously, train themselves, behave ethically and perform professionally to meet global standards,” he said.
He concluded that strengthening the media would ultimately serve the national interest by enhancing governance, public discourse and development outcomes.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Central Region, has called on media owners, government and the public to protect press freedom, ensure journalist safety and uphold professionalism, stressing that a free and ethical media is vital for democracy and national development.
In a release signed by the Central Regional Chairman of the GJA, Mr. Kingsley Nana Boadu, the Association saluted journalists, editors, producers and media practitioners for their commitment to truth “despite the risks,” and commended their resilience and dedicated service in promoting public accountability.
According to the statement, this year’s global theme, “Shaping a Future of Peace,” underscores the importance of press freedom as the cornerstone of democracy and development.
“Without a free, ethical and fearless media, accountability dies and voices are silenced,” the statement emphasised.
The GJA further urged journalists in the region to uphold professionalism, rigorously fact-check their work and protect the public’s right to know, particularly at a time when critical national issues such as illegal mining (galamsey), environmental degradation and other development challenges require urgent attention.
The Association called on media owners to prioritise the safety, welfare and continuous training of journalists, noting that investment in human capital is key to sustaining media excellence.
It also appealed to government and the public to respect the operational space of journalists and allow them to perform their duties without intimidation or interference.
“To government and the public: respect the space we need to carry out our work without intimidation,” the statement said.
The GJA reaffirmed its commitment to promoting press freedom, media excellence and the protection of journalists across the Central Region.
About Press Freedom Day
May 3 is observed globally as World Press Freedom Day. It is a day set aside to be used to raise awareness on the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of human rights.
It was declared at Windhoek in Namibia in 1991 at UNESCO’s conference and proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1993 and has since then, being celebrated annually.
While some regions use the occasion to hold seminars and workshops for the members in the media profession,others also organize fun games and flag hoisting ceremonies to commemorate the day.
Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFM/CBS
