UN Secretary General charges governments and politicians to commit to ensuring free media

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon has called on all governments, politicians, businesses and citizens to commit to nurturing and protecting independent and free media. 

Mr Ban said without these fundamental rights, the media will be less free and less empowered. 

The UN's theme for this year's celebration is 'Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms - This Is Your Right.' 

Mr Moon urged all to work together for a world of dignity and opportunity. 

World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. 

The celebration coincides with three important milestones: the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the world’s first freedom of information law, 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). 

Meanwhile, the Managing Consultant of the Centre for Media Analysis, Dr Messan Mawugbe says the Ghanaian media has done creditably well since the celebration of the last World Press Freedom Day. 

Dr Mawugbe however said press freedom should not be limited to content alone but also to the protection and security of journalists in the performance of their work. 

He told Radio Ghana that practitioners should ensure that they demand security in their line of duty.

GBC