Accra, Oct. 11, GNA - The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Monday urged media personnel to consider their commitment to higher professionalism as crucial to the steady development of democracy in Ghana.

A statement signed by the President, Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, on the occasion of the first year in office of the current national executives of the GJA also urged media organizations to make it a policy to ensure out fair and balanced coverage in the forthcoming elections.

It thanked members of the association and the public for their continued support to the development of the media in the country. The statement mentioned collaborators such as the United States Agency for International Development, the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), the Friedrich Ebert Foundation of Germany, the United States Embassy, the French Embassy and the National Media Commission for their support to the GJA in the area of training.

It also commended the National Governance Programme for supporting for the Association's activities saying, "Through the UNDP, the governance programme has sponsored many activities of GJA, which had helped to promote high journalistic standards and defending press freedom".

The statement expressed the hope that members, partners and the public would continue to show goodwill and support for the freedom and independence of the media in the spirit of tolerance.

"Much is expected of us, much remains to be done. Let us all commit ourselves to the ethics of our profession" the statement said.