GIJ SET TO ORGANIZE A FORUM ON MEDIA FREEDOM

The Directorate of Research, Innovation and Development (DRID) of the Ghana Institute of Journalism is set to organize a public forum on the theme “Re-Examining Freedom of Expression, Ethics, and Threats to the safety of Journalists”.

The event, which is slated for Thursday, 17th March, 2022 at the North Dzorwulu campus of the institute will have three key discussants engaging in an in-depth discourse on the theme. The discussants are Dr. Ebo Afful, the Head of Department, Department of Communication Studies at GIJ, COP Nathan Kofi Boakye, Director-General, Legal and Prosecutions at Ghana Police Service and Mr. George Sarpong, Executive Secretary, National Media Commission. The forum will be chaired by Prof. Eric Opoku Mensah, Deputy Rector, GIJ.

According to the Institute’s Director of Research, Dr. Etse Sikanku, the purpose of the forum is to bring different sections of the society together; academia, civil society, the media and the general public in order to discuss press freedom and attacks on journalists, a major issue of public concern. “We believe that it is important for all stakeholders to be part of this ongoing discussion. GIJ as a research institution and as a journalism and communication training institute is trying to drive the conversation and provide the platform for such discourse in order for us to find very equitable solutions to some of the major problems in the area of journalism practice in Ghana” he said.

He further said though those discussions have been held on radio and other platforms, the aim of the forum is to bring stakeholders together for a more in-depth and participatory forum to bring out the way forward for professional practice.

Invited guests for the forum include officials from civil society organizations, media houses, state security organizations, members of diplomatic corps and academia.