Freedom Of Expression Vital Precondition For All Human Rights — US Embassy6 min read

This is because journalism provides a platform for informed discussion across a wide range of issues – including governance and corruption, environmental challenges, gender equality, youth engagement and peacebuilding; thus, it was only when journalists were at liberty to monitor, investigate and criticise policies and actions that good governance could exist.

In an address at the event to commemorate this year’s World Press Freedom Day, which fell yesterday, the Public Affairs Officer (PAO) of the US Embassy, Ginny Elliott, said a free, vibrant and independent media was crucial as a free press was one of the most vital ingredients for any functioning democracy.

Important day

Ms Elliot said the United States of America (USA) placed much importance on the day which was commemorated around the world on the theme: “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights”.

She said the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, was commemorating the day, which also marked the 30th anniversary, by helping to launch the 2023 World Press Freedom Index.

Commitment

Ms Elliot said as a commitment to this call, the US Embassy would continue to support media development institutions to build the capacity of Ghanaian journalists in fact-checking, investigative journalism and media literacy programmes for young Ghanaians to improve their appetite for news and credible information.

She said the embassy’s grant to the Department of Communication, University of Ghana in support of the “State of the Ghanaian Media Report” was one clear example of the embassy’s ardent commitment to supporting the Ghanaian media.

Ms Elliot emphasised the importance of the work of objective journalists and investigative reporters as they held elected leaders accountable and represented a range of viewpoints on behalf of all citizens.

She said it was worrying that there was currently a situation where media freedom, freedom of expression and other human rights were increasingly under attack and called for more to be done to protect journalists.

“We are currently witnessing a situation where media freedom, freedom of expression, as well other human rights, are increasingly under attack.

“Journalists’ safety is of major concern as was stipulated in the State of Ghanaian Media Report.

As the report correctly points out, journalists must be protected, just as the public can be protected from misinformation by strong civil liability laws,” she said.

Ms Elliot also commended the courageous work of journalists in Ghana and around the world, who worked to keep the world informed.

“Today, we applaud the courageous work of you and your colleagues around the world.

Thank you for the important role you are fulfilling to keep people informed.

Full Speech….

PAO Ginny Elliott REMARKS
WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY EVENT
PRESS CENTRE, ACCRA
MAY 03, 2023

TIME:  10.00am

Good morning!  On behalf of Ambassador Palmer and the U.S. Embassy, I’m so pleased to celebrate with you today as we mark the 30th anniversary since the UN declaration of World Press Freedom Day.  I salute all our friends in the media who are here today.

This 30th anniversary edition is being celebrated around the world. Partners from the media, academia, and civil society are deliberating on the theme “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights.” Our own Secretary of State Antony Blinken will commemorate this important day later when he helps launch the 2023 World Press Freedom Index.

A free press is one of the most vital ingredients for any functioning democracy.  For this reason, the Founding Fathers of the United States ensured that freedom of expression was the very first guarantee of our constitution.

It’s also why the media are often referred to as the Fourth Estate.  There may be three branches of government in democracies like the United States and Ghana- but where would we be if there were not objective journalists and investigative reporters to hold our elected leaders accountable?  And who are free to represent a range of viewpoints on behalf of all citizens.

A free, vibrant, and independent media is crucial. The U.S. Embassy continues to support media development institutions to build the capacity of Ghanaian journalists in fact checking, investigative journalism, reporting on people with disabilities, and media literacy programs for young Ghanaians to improve their appetite for news and credible information.

The Embassy’s grant to the Department of Communication, University of Ghana in support of “State of the Ghanaian Media report” is one clear example of our ardent commitment to support Ghanaian media.  Aspects of the report included working conditions in media, media ownership, journalists’ safety.  I recommend it to you as a useful roadmap for guiding our way forward to support journalists.

In 2020, the U.S Embassy supported the Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA) and the School of Information and Communication Studies at the University of Ghana  to launch “the Status of Women in the Ghanaian Media” report, again providing evidence for advocacy and support.  Based on a nationwide study of newsrooms, the report presented an overview of the profile of women in the Ghanaian media including the positions they occupy, career progression opportunities, their challenges and experiences with issues of harassment and other human right abuses.

The findings in these two reports are catalysts for development organizations in the industry, government, academia, and consumers of news to spur improvements.

We are currently witnessing a situation where media freedom, freedom of expression, as well other human rights, are increasingly under attack.  Journalists’ safety is of major concern as was stipulated in the State of Ghanaian Media Report.  As the report correctly points out, journalists must be protected.  Just as the public can be protected from misinformation by strong civil liability laws.

Journalism provides us all a platform for informed discussion across a range of issues – including governance and corruption, environmental challenges, gender equality, youth engagement and peacebuilding. Only when journalists are at liberty to monitor, investigate and criticize policies and actions can good governance exist.

Today we applaud the work of you – the Fourth Estate – and your colleagues around the world.  Thank you for the important role you are fulfilling to keep the people informed.

As we mark this 30th anniversary, we call on all stakeholders to refocus on freedom of expression as a vital precondition for the enjoyment of all other human rights.  As Thomas Jefferson once said “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost”.

Thank you.