The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is asking its members to be circumspect in their reportage to avoid court fines as recent court rulings against media houses are a threat to free speech.
The warning comes after an Accra High Court awarded a GHC 250,000 Ghana damages to the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia following a false publication in the Daily Guide about him.
Two weeks ago, another High Court in Accra awarded a GHC 300,000 Ghana damages to a timber processing company, Evans Timbers after the Informer Newspaper also published false information about the company.
Speaking to Citi News, the General Secretary of the GJA, David Agbenu said suits are unacceptable “when these things continue to happen, it threatens free speech and the freedom of the press.”
He explained that if the affected media houses “were to collapse, we were going to be prevented from having the opportunity to let them inform the public about what is happening in society…and it will appear the media is under siege.”
Mr. Agbenu was however quick to add that journalists in Ghana should not be reckless in their reportage and should endeavour to abide by the code of conduct guiding the profession.
Click on attached link to listen to Mr. Agbenu
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana