‎GJA @77: Dwumfour Calls for Stronger Ethical Journalism as Digital Media Transforms Industry

Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has urged journalists to prioritise truth and accuracy over speed and popularity, warning that the profession's credibility is under growing pressure from misinformation, disinformation, fabricated content and rapid technological change.

Anniversary Symposium in Accra

Mr Dwumfour made the call at the GJA's 77th anniversary symposium and lecture, held on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, in Accra, under the theme "Building on our Legacy, Advancing Ethical Journalism and Shaping the Future of Digital Media". The symposium and lecture were held at the British Council in Accra, where the Association's newly reconstituted statutory committees were also sworn into office.

He told journalists that impact should not be measured by reach alone. "Do not measure your success only by how many people see your story. Measure it by whether the story is true. Do not measure your influence only by the number of followers you have. Measure it by whether people can trust you," he said.

Press Freedom Paired with Responsibility

Mr Dwumfour stressed that press freedom remains central to the GJA's mandate but must be matched by responsibility, noting that media credibility depends on accuracy, fairness, independence and accountability.

He was candid about where that responsibility lies, stating plainly that the association's ability to defend journalism's reputation depends on journalists themselves upholding professional standards. "The association cannot defend the credibility of journalism if journalists themselves are unwilling to uphold the standards that make that credibility possible," he said.

He also highlighted the GJA's record of intervening on behalf of journalists facing threats, saying the association had "consistently engaged relevant authorities whenever the safety and freedom of media practitioners" came under threat .

A Renewed, Not Retiring, Association

Marking 77 years since the GJA's founding, Mr Dwumfour framed the milestone as a moment of renewal rather than retirement. "At 77, therefore, our message is simple. The GJA is not retiring. We are renewing our commitment to press freedom, ethical journalism, journalist safety, innovation, and the development of Ghana," he said.

He also appealed to Corporate Ghana and other partners to support the GJA Awards, which he said would mark three decades of celebrating journalistic excellence.

Regulators and Partners Weigh In

Other speakers at the symposium reinforced the call for stronger ethics in the digital era. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), emphasized accuracy, context, fairness, accountability and disciplined verification, particularly as social media content increasingly competes with traditional journalism for public attention.

He urged media houses to establish clear internal policies on the responsible use of artificial intelligence and to treat digital security as part of professional journalistic practice, warning: "Newsrooms hold sensitive information on published investigations, confidential sources, personal data. A compromised newsroom can endanger not only an institution, but the people who place their trust in it".

Professor Akua Opokua Britwum, Chairperson of the National Media Commission, argued that ethical journalism in the digital age is a collective responsibility that extends beyond individual conduct to the governance of digital platforms themselves [4]. Edmund Moukala, UNESCO Representative to Ghana, commended the GJA for sustaining its mandate over nearly eight decades and urged journalists to protect public trust amid the industry's rapid digital transformation .

Also addressing the gathering, veteran journalist and media commentator Kwesi Pratt Jnr called on the GJA to continue protecting journalists, advocate for better conditions of service, hold members accountable and strengthen practitioners' capacity to use technology responsibly. "The right to publish means very little if the person exercising that right can be intimidated, attacked or brutalized for doing legitimate journalistic work," he said, adding that press freedom "cannot mean freedom from accountability".

Mustapha Bature Sallama medical Science communicator, Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,United States Institute of Peace (USIP), [email protected] +233555275880

References

• Ghana News Agency via MyJoyOnline, "Prioritise truth, accuracy over speed, followers – GJA President to journalists," August 19, 2026, https://www.myjoyonline.com/prioritise-truth-accuracy-over-speed-followers-gja-president-to-journalists/
• GBC Ghana Online, "GJA reconstitutes statutory committees to strengthen governance," https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/general/gja-reconstitutes/2026/
• abcnewsgh, "'We Can't Defend Journalism's Credibility If Journalists Fail To Uphold Professional Standards' – GJA," August 19, 2026, https://abcnewsgh.com/we-cant-defend-journalisms-credibility-if-journalists-fail-to-uphold-professional-standards-gja/
• Ghanamma.com, "Journalists must strengthen credibility in digital era- Pratt urges," https://www.ghanamma.com/2026/08/20/journalists-must-strengthen-credibility-in-digital-era-pratt-urges/