Republic of Ghana

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
P. O. BOX M 41, ACCRA

Tel No: +233-(0)30-2227201

Fax No: +233-(0)30-2229786 EMAIL: info.moi@moi.gov.gh

Date: May 3, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY: GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PRESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19
PANDEMIC

The Government of Ghana congratulates all journalists in Ghana on the occasion of World Press
Freedom Day. This year’s celebration is being marked globally under the theme, “Journalism
without Fear or Favour”.

As indicated by the Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization(UNESCO), “… at a time when we are mired in worry and uncertainty because of
the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, free information is essential to helping us face,
understand, think about and overcome this crisis. We must consider the vital importance of
information in this situation; informing the public means giving everyone knowledge of the means
of combatting the illness by adopting appropriate practices”.

In Ghana, we among other things, celebrate the significant role the Press is playing in the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic. Their reporting and publishing of information on preventive etiquette is
contributing positively in this fight.

The Akufo-Addo administration has been working closely with the Media and other stakeholders
in disseminating information and educating the public as part of the broader COVID-19
Government response. The Media, as the President in one of such engagements described, is an
“invaluable ally” in the fight against COVID-19.

We are hopeful that together, we will defeat this pandemic in the shortest possible time and
continue with initiatives to make the media and broadcasting space increasingly productive.

Signed,

KOJO OPPONG NKRUMAH (MP)

MINISTER