MEDEF Urged Stakeholders To Protect Media Freedom

Media For Development Foundation, (MEDEF), a Human Right and Non –Profit Media Advocacy Media Organization in Sunyani has urged the government, politicians and the stakeholders in the country to protect the fundamental freedom of the media.

According to MEDEF as the world celebrates World Press Freedom Day it is important for all stakeholders in the country to commit to nurturing and protecting an independent free media.

The CEO of Media For Development Foundation Mr. Emmanuel O. Appiah disclose this in a press statement issued and copied to the media in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo region. Every year, 3 May is a day which has been set aside to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

He said the theme for this year’s World Press Freedom Day which is ‘Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms-this is your right’ is appropriate because without this fundamental rights people are less free and less empowered.

According to him, this year’s World Press Freedom Day focuses on three different aspects of press freedom which includes freedom of information as a fundamental freedom and as a human right, protecting press freedom from censorship and surveillance overreach, ensuring safety for journalism online and offline.

Mr. Emmanuel O. Appiah added that the celebration has coincided with the 250th anniversary of the world’s first freedom of information law, covering both modern-day Sweden and Finland, the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration of press freedom principles and the first year of the 15 year life-cycle of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said the World Press Freedom Day was proclaim by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the 26^th Session of UNESCO's General Conference in 1991 which in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the landmark Windhoek Declaration on media pluralism and independence.

He added that over 100 nations commemorate this Day and UNESCO leads the worldwide celebration by identifying the global thematic and organizing the main event in different parts of world every year.

He said MEDEF is therefore calling on everyone in the country to protect the right and freedom of the media. “We can work together for a world of dignity and opportunity for all,” he stressed.