Disseminate accurate information on economic challenges and recovery efforts – Akufo-Addo to Journalists

President Akufo-Addo has made a passionate and professional appeal to Journalists in the country to endeavor to put out in the media space, accurate information about the prevailing economic challenges and the genuine efforts being made by his government to remedy the situation.

Journalists, according to President Akufo-Addo, should not allow politicians to use their media outlets and platforms as avenues to score political, partisan and parochial points out of the economic setback and the measures being implemented to address the impediment which is adversely affecting the ordinary Ghanaian.

Addressing Journalists at the Ghana Journalists Association dinner night held at the Ghana International Press Centre on Wednesday 21 December 2022, President Akufo-Addo appealed to his audience not to give in to politicians who want to cash in on the economic crisis largely brought about by a larger global economic meltdown.

“I have an appeal to make of you especially in the times that we find ourselves, where the dissemination of accurate information is so critical. As all of you know, we have had to seek the collaboration of the International Monetary Fund to repair in the short term, our public financing.

“This collaboration with the IMF has meant that government on its part is having to implement difficult and painful measures to get our nation out of the situation that it finds itself,” President Akufo-Addo said.

“As natural as it should be, there will be those who would see it with narrow partisan ends to spew untruths about these measures with the ultimate goal of being able to misinform the Ghanaian people and creating disaffection for government.

“I would urge you not to fall prey to the schemes of such persons. Information regarding the ongoing process is readily available from the Ministers of Finance and Information and I entreat all of you to assist in this endeavor on the basis of the well-established principle of “facts are sacred but comment is free”,” Akufo-Addo added.

President Akufo-Addo stressed, “The rebuilding of a strong Ghanaian economy is at the heart of the several exercises government is currently undertaking and in order for my government to be successful, the recovery effort should be the responsibility of all of us.”

Development of Journalists

In his address, President Akufo-Addo noted that his administration has taken various steps which are aimed at ensuring that Journalists in Ghana receive training and other forms of support which can positively influence their work output and professionalism.

He commended the media for keeping his government accountable over the period of its life span and for the strategic coverage the media gave to the out-break of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana since March 2020.

“I want to assure you that government will continue to support the growth and development of the media and media practitioners.

“Government and the media have a responsibility to uphold these high standards (training, critical engagement of our society with the media, self-regulation and insistence on high media ethics and journalism standards).

“When we appreciate these imperatives, and discharge them faithfully, Ghana will be the beneficiary,” President Akufo-Addo said.

Murder of Ahmed Suale

On the sad murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale, a Ghanaian investigative journalist who was part of Anas Aremeyaw Anas’s Tiger Eye PI, who was shot on 16 January 2019 at about midnight in Madina, a suburb of Accra, President Akufo-Addo said the development continues to be regrettable to him, particularly the fact that the suspects have not yet been apprehended.

He assured that as long as he remains President, he will ensure that the security services in the country continue with their investigations into the matter until the criminals who continue to be at large, are apprehended and brought to justice.

“I continue to be deeply regretful that inspite of the unceasing best efforts of the Police, the perpetrators of the murder of Ahmed Suale are still at large. But I assure you that so long as I am President, this dossier will not be closed until hopefully, they are brought to justice,” President Akufo-Addo stated.