GJA has Won Bid to Hold 3rd African Media Convention in Accra -Albert Dwumfour

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), an affiliate of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) and its parent body the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has won the bid to host the Third African Media Convention in Accra, Ghana in May 2024.

The successful bid of the GJA to host the next Convention was announced during the Second Africa Media Convention which was held in Lusaka, Zambia from 11 – 13 May 2023.

The African Media Convention is currently the largest gathering of media stakeholders and policy makers in the continent. The Convention, an initiative of The African Editors’ Forum (TAEF) is designed to safeguard the hard-won media freedoms and safety of journalists on the continent. The maiden edition of the Convention was held in Arusha, Tanzania, in 2022. The Convention brings together media experts, scholars, students, journalists, journalists’ unions and associations, editors, public and private sector, including cooperating partners from around the African continent and beyond as well as representatives from UNESCO and the African Union Commission.

Addressing a news Conference in Accra on Tuesday, the GJA President Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour expressed the GJA’s commitment and readiness to make the event which comes off in May 2024, unique and superb.

Once again, it is important to state that, GJA will be 75years next year and the convention will coincide with the 75th anniversary of the GJA and also marks the 60th anniversary of the AU. Nothing gets better than this, we are excited!

“Ladies and Gentlemen, The GJA will be the first journalists’ association or union to host this event noting that the first Convention was hosted by the East African Editors’ Forum in Arusha, Tanzania, and the second edition of the Convention hosted by the Southern Africa Editors’ Forum (SAEF) in Lusaka, Zambia”, the GJA President emphasized.

Below is the full statement

Statement Delivered by GJA President Albert Dwumfour at the Press Center on May 23, 2023 on Ghana’s Successful Bid to Host the Third African Media Convention

Good Afternoon Fellow Media Colleagues
Ladies and Gentlemen
I would like to welcome everyone to this crucial and exciting brief meeting at the Ghana International Press Center in Accra.

This afternoon, I have a piece of excellent news to share with my media colleagues. The positive news is that, Ghana Journalists Association GJA has won the bid to host the Third African Media Convention in Accra in May 2024

Our successful bid to host the next Convention was announced during the Second Africa Media Convention which was held in Lusaka, Zambia from 11 – 13 May 2023.

I must say that the Convention was a moment of reflection by African media stakeholders on the revolving trends that impede freedom of expression and freedom of the media, media viability and sustainability as well as the safety and security of journalists.

It is essential to note, ladies and gentlemen of the media, that at the same time that the GJA was making a strong case to host the AMC, other countries were also lobbying vigorously for it. But we beat them to it thanks to Ghana’s vibrant media industry as well as Ghana’s media freedom and democratic credentials in the past. Ghana performed exceptionally well on the 2018-2020 World Press Freedom Index, rating third in Africa in 2018, first in 2019, and third once again in 2020. Regarding media freedom and independence, Ghana is among the most liberated nations in Africa. We however note that, our Press Freedom record in recent times has been a great cause for concern.

Once again, it is important to state that, GJA will be 75years next year and the convention will coincide with the 75th anniversary of the GJA and also marks the 60th anniversary of the AU. Nothing gets better than this, we are excited!

Ladies and Gentlemen, The GJA will be the first journalists’ association or union to host this event noting that the first Convention was hosted by the East African Editors’ Forum in Arusha, Tanzania, and the second edition of the Convention hosted by the Southern Africa Editors’ Forum (SAEF) in Lusaka, Zambia.
The African Media Convention is currently the largest gathering of media stakeholders and policymakers in the continent.

The Convention, an initiative of The African Editors’ Forum (TAEF) is designed to safeguard the hard-won media freedoms and safety of journalists on the continent. The maiden edition of the Convention was held in Arusha, Tanzania, in 2022.

The Convention brings together media experts, scholars, students, journalists, journalists’ unions and associations, editors, public and private sector, including cooperating partners from around the African continent and beyond as well as representatives from UNESCO and the African Union Commission.

It is a moment of reflection by African media stakeholders on the revolving trends that impede freedom of expression and freedom of the media, media viability and sustainability as well as the safety and security of journalists.

As I said during my acceptance speech in Lusaka we are ready and prepared to host the Third African Media Convention in Accra in 2024.
Aside from the proverbial Ghanian hospitality which our African brothers will experience, we believe they also take the opportunity to visit several places of interest such as Mountain Afadjato, the tallest mountain in Africa, kakum National Park, Mole National Park, St. George’s Castle, Nzulezu, Volta Lake, Paga Crocodile Pond, and Lake Bosomtwe, among others.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to applaud the Ghanaian government, specifically the Ministry of Information, for their unwavering support of this successful bid. In fact, GJA executives conferred with Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah to formally inform the government of the hosting rights.

In light of the government’s total support for this endeavor, the Ministry of Information has designated a representative to deliver a message of solidarity at this event.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to share with you major highlights of the convention which when implemented will enhance media practice on our continent :

The setting up of a national minimum wage for journalists per country as set out in ILO Convention 11 (ILO Minimum Wage Fixing Convention) and equal pay for equal work done by all regardless of their gender as spelt out in ILO Convention 100 on the principle of equal remuneration for all workers.

UNESCO was called upon to lead efforts to create an African media fund to finance and enhance media sustainability and viability given the financial challenges facing most media organizations on the continent. This is necessary to protect the media from political and economic pressures and thus consolidate the freedom of the media in Africa.

The need to draw the attention of Governments in Africa to pursue equitable sharing of revenues by Tech Giants to ensure media sustainability and viability.

Stakeholders expressed concerns about the levels of impunity and rising cases of violations against journalists and media workers in Africa which erodes the rights to freedom of expression and opinion, access to information, assembly, association, and political participation.

Another concern was that many areas of journalistic practice have been criminalised, with the adoption of cybercrime laws prohibiting the publication of false news or news deemed to threaten national security or public health.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it was also observed that social media remains largely unregulated resulting in the dissemination and amplification of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech.

Furthermore, there were concerns about the enactment of laws and policies aimed at enhancing control and curtailment of the digital civic space, surveillance and interception of communication, the registering and licensing of online content creators, and limiting the use of encryption.

Let me also use this opportunity to thank my able National Executive members for their hard work, cooperation and dedication, which contributed to our successful bid.
In light of this, I urge all Journalists, stakeholders, and corporate institutions to join us in making history.

A special commendation goes to the four-member GJA delegation which includes, Rebecca Ekpe, Public Affairs Officer, Suala Abdul-Wahab, GJA Upper West Regional Chairman, Shirley Ewurama Smith, GJA Western Regional Secretary and my very good self as the leader of the delegation.

We also thank other media stakeholders; PRINPAG, MFWA, GIBA, and others for their continuous support. They have expressed their commitment to ensuring that we have a successful convention in Accra.

Abdourahamane Diallo, UNESCO’s Ghana Country Director, and Abdul Hamid Yakubu, Programme Officer, Communication and Information at the UNESCO Accra office, deserve special thanks for spearheading the endeavor to secure hosting rights for Ghana.

We also thank Ghana’s High Commissioner to Zambia, Her Excellency Khadija Iddrisu and her team for their immense support in Lusaka.

Thank you all for your attention

Long live the GJA !
Long live AMC!
Thank you.

Source:www.senaradioonline.com