As the world marks World Press Freedom Day today, the government would like to sincerely congratulate media practitioners for their various roles in the national development effort.

On this special day set aside for celebrating press freedom all over the world, the government wishes to assure media practitioners of its commitment to deepening press freedom as well as widening the space for practitioners to meaningfully engage in their journalistic activities.

As part of its commitment, the government would soon put before parliament a Broadcasting Bill for consideration and passage. This, it is believed, will standardise the broadcasting industry as well as increase the level of professionalism.

As a further show of support for the press, the government is committed to ensuring that the one million Ghana Cedi Media Development Fund allocated under this year’s budget would be quickly disbursed in order to support the media by way of training and capacity-building, among others. Already, a stake-holders forum has been held with practitioners on various issues including capacity-building requirements of media practitioners as well as accessibility and disbursement under the Fund.

As is characteristic of this government, we wish to renew our pledge to the running of an open, transparent and accountable governance, and will at all times be ready and willing to be part of any professional media scrutiny aimed at deepening our constitutional democracy.

Finally, as we go into election 2012, let all media practitioners be reminded that Ghana is the only country that we have. Let us therefore be ambassadors of peace by guarding against the use of hate speech, insults, inflammatory and abusive language, ethnicity and any conduct calculated to breach the peace.

FRITZ BAFFOUR, MP. MINISTER FOR INFORMATION**