The Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Samuel Esson Jonah, popularly known as ‘Sam Jonah’ has urged Ghanaian Journalists to use their power to champion peace, fairness and democracy in the upcoming 2024 general election.
The statesman said this at the launch of the 75th-anniversary celebrations of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Accra on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. He reminded the nation of the electoral violence at Ayawaso and the killing of innocent voters at Techiman during the last elections, which must not be repeated.
“As we approach the forthcoming elections, let your pens and your voices forge a narrative of peace, fairness, and democracy. The sad saga of SALL, the killing of innocent voters at Techiman, and the unprecedented electoral violence at Ayawaso remain a scar on our collective conscience,” he said.
“We must all resolve that these unfortunate chapters in our more recent history will never be repeated. You should endeavour to be the bridge over troubled waters, ensuring that every Ghanaian, irrespective of political allegiance, finds solace and strength in the truth,” he added.
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Sam Jonah also admonished the Ghana Journalists Association to work as a united force and commit to the ideals of their noble profession.
“I call upon you to remember that the Ghana Journalists Association is more than a collective of individuals, it is a symbol of our nation’s resilience, its aspirations, and its unwavering pursuit of progress,” Jonah said. “Inspired by the legacy of our forebears and the timeless call of “Yen Ara Asase Ni,” let us forge ahead, united in purpose and resolute in our commitment to the ideals of your noble profession. It is my hope and prayer that you will become a beacon of truth, integrity, and national pride, today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.”
The businessman also expressed disappointment in the sudden low reportage of the destruction caused by galamsey.
“Galamsey doesn’t make the headlines anymore, and yet the country is experiencing the ravages of this terrible phenomenon every day. The alarming increase in children born with deformities, the epidemic of kidney and liver diseases, and the alarming mortality rates in the areas affected by galamsey activities appear not to merit your sustained concern. What a shame, what a pity! As journalists, the times we live in beckon you to remember your purpose, power, and your responsibility. The price of the continued silence is too grave to fathom,” he said.
Sam Jonah also advocated for freedom of the press and encouraged journalists to be fearless and courageous, irrespective of the attacks in their line of duty.
“This is the time to be fearless and courageous. We can not and must not compromise on our defence of the national interest. The success of our attempt at a democratic order will depend crucially on how free the press is. In the words of Walter Cronkite, a widely respected American journalist, ‘freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy,” he said.