A leader of Ghana's journalism profession has called on media practitioners to embrace their obligation to maintain ethical standards, arguing that professional bodies cannot effectively protect the credibility of the industry if individual journalists fail to uphold the principles that earn public trust.
Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, president of the Ghana Journalists Association, made the remarks during the organization's 77th anniversary symposium and lecture held on Wednesday. His message underscored a fundamental tension within the media landscape: while journalists depend on professional organizations to shield them from external threats and interference, they must simultaneously demonstrate the integrity that justifies such protection.
Dwumfour emphasized that the relationship between individual journalists and their professional association operates as a two-way street. Media practitioners should be able to turn to the GJA for professional development, guidance and institutional backing when their legitimate reporting activities face pressure from external forces. At the same time, journalists carry their own responsibility to demonstrate the standards that make such advocacy meaningful and credible.
"The association cannot defend the credibility of journalism if journalists themselves are unwilling to uphold the standards that make that credibility possible," Dwumfour stated. The comment reflects ongoing concerns within the journalism profession globally about maintaining public confidence in media institutions amid widespread skepticism toward news organizations.
The GJA president used the organization's anniversary milestone as an opportunity to reflect on the stewardship responsibilities of the association's leadership. He framed current leaders not as owners of the institution but as custodians of something built through decades of sacrifice, advocacy and professional commitment. That distinction carries weight in how the organization approaches its mission going forward. Rather than viewing their tenure as an opportunity to reshape the association according to contemporary preferences, leaders bear the burden of strengthening inherited structures for future generations.
The Ghana Journalists Association has long positioned itself as a central force in shaping the nation's media environment and advocating for conditions that allow journalists to operate without fear, intimidation or unwarranted state interference. The organization has consistently promoted the principle that a free and independent press serves as a prerequisite for democratic governance and institutional accountability. To that end, the GJA has partnered with successive governments, state institutions, civil society groups and international development partners to advance journalism standards and professional capacity across the country.
The association has pursued this mission through practical initiatives, including training programmes, workshops, conferences and stakeholder engagement activities designed to enhance journalist skills and awareness. Additionally, the GJA has made public advocacy a cornerstone of its work, regularly denouncing attacks on media practitioners and engaging with authorities when journalist safety or freedom of expression comes under threat. Dwumfour noted that such efforts have contributed to Ghana's positioning on the World Press Freedom Index, a global ranking that measures the state of media freedom across nations.
Dwumfour concluded by urging journalists to recognize that defending press freedom cannot exist in isolation from professional accountability. The viability and relevance of journalism as an institution ultimately depend on the credibility that comes from consistent ethical practice. Without that foundation, even the most vigorous external advocacy becomes hollow.
Source: MyJoyOnline | Published: Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:47:03
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