Ghana has been selected as the host nation for the 2018 International Press Freedom Day.
The day seeks to raise awareness on the importance of freedom of the press and to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Addressing a gathering in Accra, Ghana’s Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid is hopeful the Right to Information Bill will be passed as soon as possible to improve Ghana’s democratic credentials.
“All the people around the table are very eager and desirous that it happens. I mean, I, as Minister for information you can be sure that I’m in a hurry to add it to my list of achievements since I came to this ministry, quite frankly it will be a matter of pride for me to see that something that was in the works for 17 years, it was me, Mustapha Abdul Hamid when I was Minister for Information that I got the Right to Information Bill passed.”
The International Press Freedom Day has previously been marked in Indonesia, United States, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and many other countries.
Ghana was selected this year on the basis of standing as a beacon of hope across the African continent and the world in the area of press freedom.
Mustapha Hamid added “I’m sure you know that it will be a matter of pride. There is no doubt in my mind, and there should be no doubt in any Ghanaians mind that I am really zealous in getting this thing done.”
International Press Freedom day will be held on 3rd May 2018.
By Natalie Fort |TV3 |3news.com