The Deputy Minister for the Interior, Mr. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, has called on the Ghana Police Service to permanently integrate training modules on freedom of expression and the safety of journalists into the curriculum of all national police training institutions.
This he indicated will make the protection of media practitioners as a cornerstone of Ghana’s democratic stability.
Speaking at the opening of a training workshop on “Freedom of Expression and the Safety of Journalists” on Wednesday in Accra, Mr. Terlabi stated that the ministry fully supports ongoing efforts to ensure that respect for human rights and constructive engagement with the media become entrenched in the country’s policing culture.
“Freedom of expression is more than just a constitutional article; it is the right that gives life to all other rights. When journalists feel safe, our democracy is safe. When the media works freely, our society grows stronger”, he noted.
The Deputy Minister stressed that law enforcement responsibilities must be exercised in a manner that protects civil liberties.
“Your duty is not only to maintain public order but also to safeguard the rights and freedoms that define who we are as a country,” he said.
Mr. Terlabi also commended UNESCO for training more than 8,600 security personnel across Africa over the last decade, and expressed appreciation to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Ghana Police Service, and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for their continued collaboration.
The workshop, organised by UNESCO in partnership with OHCHR, the Ghana Police Service, and the GJA, seeks to deepen cooperation and trust between security agencies and the media, particularly during protests, election periods, and other high-pressure situations where tensions often arise.
Judith Twumwaa, ISD
