Journalists must be concerned about “disturbing” happenings in Ghana such as “the perceived weaponisation of state agencies against opponents, the creeping assault on freedom of the press, the perceived lack of trust in the dispensation of justice, and the pathetic lack of accountability in the protection of the public purse” and speak out against them, the Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Sir Sam Jonah has said.

“This is the time for patriots to find their voices”, Mr Jonah charged, when he spoke at the launch of the 75th-anniversary celebrations of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Accra on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, on the theme: “75 Years of Excellence in Journalism: Past, Present, and Future.”

“In this era, where the essence of our democracy and the fabric of our society are tested, let us recommit ourselves to the principles that Ephraim Amu so eloquently espoused”, Mr said.

“I implore you to be the standard-bearers of objectivity, the architects of informed discourse, and the unyielding defenders of freedom and truth. In this regard, all of us have to be concerned about some disturbing developments in our national discourse”, he noted.

In his view, “This is the time to be fearless and courageous”, adding: “We cannot 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!”