加纳总统 John Dramani Mahama 先生表示，其政府将致力于恢复 2017 年前象征加纳民主实践的言论自由精神、机构尊严与新闻安全。

马哈马指出，由于记者遭受威胁事件增加和虚假信息文化蔓延，导致加纳全球新闻自由指数排名下滑，这一现象令人忧心。

总统强调，尽管 2017 年前加纳曾作为非洲媒体独立的标杆屹立不倒，记者们得以无畏开展工作，但当前该国的新闻自由状况已明显恶化。

上月，在库马西曼希亚宫禧年大厅举行的第 29 届加纳记者协会颁奖典礼上，总统特别指出，反映 2024 年媒体状况的 2025 年新闻自由指数再次出现令人遗憾的下降。

"这一信号表明我们的复苏态势依然脆弱，加纳正面临决定性选择：是接受这种渐进式滑坡，还是自觉重夺非洲媒体自由引领者的地位。" 马哈马郑重声明。

颁奖典礼

本届以 "守护加纳未来：媒体在促进和平、安全及打击非法采矿中的角色" 为主题的颁奖典礼，是 29年 来首次在首都阿克拉以外地区举办。阿香蒂国王 Otumfuo Osei Tutu II 亲临现场并为活动提供重要支持。

典礼云集众多政要名流，包括记者协会现任及前任领导层、代理首席大法官 Paul Baffoe-Bonnie 先生、政府通信事务部长 Felix Kwakye Ofosu 先生、内政部长 Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak 先生、总统府行动总监 Nathan Kofi Boakye 退休警监，以及总统顾问 Joyce Bawah Mogtari 先生等。

获奖的 29 名杰出记者和媒体机构代表在典礼上领取了各类奖项。其他出席贵宾还包括阿香蒂地区行政长官 Frank Amoakohene 博士、库马西大都会行政长官 Richard Ofori Agyeman Boadi 先生、联合国教科文组织加纳代表 Edmond Moukala N’gouemo 先生、国家媒体委员会主席 Akua Biritwum 教授等。

对记者的袭击

总统向在场的新闻界人士详细介绍了加纳记者协会 (GJA) 近期要求他加快调查 2020 年和 2024 年选举期间暴力事件的呼吁。他表示调查已经完成，并确认了 21 名涉案人员。

"其中 4 人已被逮捕并保释，5 人仍在押候审，其余嫌疑人已签发逮捕令，将依法严惩。" 总统说道。

马哈马总统郑重声明："在我的领导下，本届政府绝不会纵容或容忍任何形式的恐吓、干涉或攻击记者行为。"

马哈马已指示政府通讯和国家安全部长建立媒体与安全机构的常设对话机制，以促进相互尊重，防范类似事件再次发生。

媒体发展基金重启

马哈马总统宣布重新启动媒体发展基金，用于支持调查性新闻报道培训、数字素养提升和记者福利保障。

但马哈马同时强调，行使自由必须承担责任，敦促新闻从业者恪守诚信、准确和公正的原则。

非法采矿

在谈及环境挑战时，马哈马总统将非法采矿（Galamsey）描述为危及加纳河流、森林和社区的国家威胁。

马哈马重申了打击环境破坏的决心，并宣布由环境保护局（EPA）主导、覆盖 1000 公顷已采矿土地的试点复垦项目已通过公私合作模式启动：“破坏环境就像割掉鼻子来伤害自己的脸。我们永远不会放弃打击非法采矿的斗争。” 

对于陪同环境保护局执行任务时遭非法矿工袭击受伤的记者，马哈马警告称，将对攻击执行合法职责的官员和安保人员的社区采取严厉措施。

未经核实的信息

作为加纳记者协会（GJA）成员，总统提醒媒体在行使自由的同时需兼顾责任，因为新闻的可信度取决于诚信、准确与公正。

“过于追求抢先报道往往导致未经核实的发布和损害他人声誉。我们需要加强内部及跨媒体的信息核实与纠错机制。正如同行接受评议，我们记者也应践行同行问责。”

大敌

加纳记者协会主席 Albert Kwabena Dwumfour 先生表示，非法采矿是加纳人必须战胜的大敌，以守护国家未来。

他对陪同环境保护局打击非法采矿时遭遇事故的记者表示关切，呼吁企业向受害者提供支持。

Dwumfour 先生谴责近期对国家反非法采矿特别工作组秘书处的袭击，称其是 “对国家权威的懦弱挑衅”。

他还赞扬 Otumfuo Osei Tutu II 对非法采矿的坚定立场，敦促其继续运用影响力保护阿香蒂土地。

他向总统和阿香蒂王保证，加纳记者协会将持续支持一切合法举措，以根除非法采矿并推广负责任采矿实践。

奖项冠名赞助商 KGL 集团执行主席 Alex Apau Dadey 先生表示，过去四年集团持续支持该奖项以表彰国内勤奋的媒体工作者。

他指出媒体对建设和平、安全、繁荣国家的不可或缺作用，并强调唯有通过真相，记者才能守护加纳的和平与安全。

We’ll Deepen Press Freedom - President Mahama at GJA Awards

President John Dramani Mahama has stated that his administration will work to restore the spirit of freedom of expression, institutional respect and journalistic safety which characterised the Ghanaian democratic experience before 2017. 

He described as a worrying concern Ghana’s decline in the Global Press Freedom Index due to increasing threats against journalists and the rising culture of misinformation.

The President said Ghana’s current record on press freedom had deteriorated, although before 2017, the nation stood tall as a beacon of media independence in Africa, as journalists worked without fear.

Speaking at the 29th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards ceremony at the Jubilee Hall of the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi last Saturday, President Mahama stressed that the 2025 Press Freedom Index, which reflected the conditions of the press in 2024, reported another unfortunate decline.

“This is a signal that our recovery remains fragile as Ghana faces a defining choice: to accept this gradual slide or to consciously reclaim our place as Africa’s torchbearer of media freedom,” he declared. 

Awards

The GJA Awards ceremony, which was held outside the national capital, Accra, for the first time in 29 years, was on the theme: “Safeguarding Ghana’s future: The role of the media in promoting peace, security and the fight against galamsey”.

In attendance was the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who provided invaluable support for the event.

The ceremony brought together many dignitaries and personalities, including present and past executives of the GJA, the acting Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie; the Minister in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu; the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak; Director of Operations at the Presidency, Commissioner of Police (COP) Nathan Kofi Boakye (retd), and Presidential Advisor, Joyce Bawah Mogtari.

Others were the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene; the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Richard Ofori Agyeman Boadi; the UNESCO Representative to Ghana, Edmond Moukala N’gouemo; the Chairperson of the National Media Commission, Prof. Akua Biritwum, and other dignitaries.

At the ceremony, 29 journalists and media organisations that excelled in their work in 2024 were presented with awards in various categories. 

Attack on journalists

Giving details of a recent call by the GJA for him to expedite investigations into acts of violence that took place during the 2020 and 2024 elections, the President informed the gathering of the inky fraternity that investigations were complete, and 21 individuals had been identified.

Four of them had been arrested and released on bail, five remained on remand, while warrants had been issued for the remaining suspects to be arrested and prosecuted to face the full rigours of the law, he said.

“Under my leadership, this government will neither sanction nor tolerate any form of intimidation, interference or attacks on journalists,” President Mahama declared, saying he had directed the ministers responsible for Government Communications and National Security to create a permanent forum between the media and security agencies to foster mutual respect and prevent future incidents. 

Media Development Fund

President Mahama announced the reactivation of the Media Development Fund to support training in investigative journalism, digital literacy and journalists’ welfare.

He, however, emphasised that freedom must be exercised with responsibility, and urged media practitioners to uphold integrity, accuracy and fairness.

Illegal mining

Turning attention to environmental challenges, the President described illegal mining (galamsey) as a national threat that endangered Ghana’s rivers, forests and communities.

He reiterated his resolve to sustain the fight against environmental destruction, announcing that a pilot reclamation project, led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and covering 1,000 hectares of mined-out land, had begun under a public-private partnership model.

“Destroying the environment is like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

We will never give up the fight against illegal mining,” President Mahama reiterated.

On the journalists who got injured after being attacked by some illegal miners in the line of duty while accompanying the EPA, the President warned that firm action would be taken against communities that attacked officials and security personnel performing their lawful duties.

Unverified information

The President, who is also a member of the GJA, reminded the media to balance their freedom with responsibility as the credibility of journalism depended on integrity, accuracy and fairness.

“Too often, the risk to break the news first results in unverified publications and damage to people’s reputation.

“We need to strengthen both internal and cross-media systems for verifying stories and making corrections.

Just as colleagues accept peer review, we, as journalists, should also adopt peer accountability,” he noted.

Big enemy

For his part, the President of the GJA, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, said galamsey was a big enemy that Ghanaians must conquer to safeguard the country’s future.

He expressed worry about the journalists who were involved in an accident in the region while accompanying EPA officials to fight illegal mining and called on corporate bodies to lend support to the victims.

Mr Dwumfour condemned the recent attack on the National Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce Secretariat, calling it a “cowardly assault on the authority of the state.”

Mr Dwumfour also commended Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his unwavering stand against illegal mining and urged him to continue using his influence to protect the lands of Asanteman.

He assured both the President and the Asantehene that the GJA would continue to support all lawful efforts aimed at eradicating galamsey and promoting responsible mining practices.

The Executive Chairman, KGL Group, the headline sponsor of the awards, Alex Apau Dadey, said for the past four years, his outfit had supported the awards ceremony to reward hardworking media personnel in the country.

He said the media’s role in securing a peaceful, secure and prosperous nation was indispensable and stated that it was only through truth that journalists could safeguard Ghana’s peace and security.

来源：加纳图文在线

文：Gilbert Mawuli Agbey

翻译：无尽夏

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