The President General of the Center of Awareness Global Peace Mission, Professor Samuel Ato Duncan has called on Ghanaians to protect the Freedom of the Press as it is the surest tool to consolidating our democracy.
Professor Duncan made this call while addressing newly appointed executives of the United Nations Association of Ghana, UNA-GH last Saturday at the D.F. Annan Hall, Parliament House, Accra. The occasion was also used to mark the International Day of Democracy which is observed on the 15th of September every year.
It has as its theme “Protecting Press Freedom for Democracy.”

Addressing participants during his acceptance speech as Chair of the occasion Professor Duncan recalled that ever since Ghana chose the path of Democracy, the media have enjoyed some level of freedom. He noted that the provisions in chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution guarantees the Freedom and the Independence of the media. These provisions, according to him, insulates the media from censorships.
He said, society benefited largely from these constitutional provisions as the Press is able to go all out and publish stories which enabled us to protect the public purse, safeguard human rights and influence public policies, he observed.

He added that democracy flourishes if a people are able to keep their government in check.
The people can keep their government in check if the political environment permits so. To create that kind of environment, the media plays a key role hence the need to zealously guard against any propensity to derail press freedom.

The Dean of the UPSA Law School Professor Kofi Abotsi who was the keynote speaker regretted that African democracies are becoming less liberal. He observed that the essence of democracy is free speech. “Free speech is not necessarily appeal to all parties, but in the end, it should produce a kind of conflict that will lead to the production of varied ideas to spur development, “he noted.
Professor Abotsi appealed to the institutions of state and other relevant stakeholders to rise up and play their respective roles towards protecting our democracy by encouraging free speech.
The new executives were sworn in by His Lordship Justice Anokye Gyimah, a circuit court judge.

In all 25 executives representing each of the 16 regions of Ghana were sworn in.
Other Dignitaries who graced the ceremony are the German Ambassador to Ghana, Daniel Krull, The Omanhene of Mankessim, Osagyefo Amanfo Edu, Dean of the University of Ghana Lwa School, Professor Raymond Atuguba and other distinguished personalities.