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Kwamena Duncan, Central Regional Minister says former President John Mahama is not the right person to criticize the ruling government for dropping in the lastest world press freedom ranking.
According to him, there were several instances when the media came under attack under his tenure “and he said nothing about it . . . but he still thinks Ghanaians have a short memory”.
“We remember everything that happened to Journalists under his tenure,” he stated.
Kwamena Duncan who was contributing to a panel discussion on Wednesday’s edition of Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’ wondered why “today the same man” is “occupying the moral high ground and making claims that are not true, but the records are there . . . please don’t come and proselytize.”
Background
President John Dramani Mahama during his speech to the people of Ghana and the Press as the World celebrated World Press Freedom Day on May, 3 said, Ghana ranked first in Africa during his tenure.
He said, “According to Reporters Without Borders, during my Presidency, Ghana became the country with the highest levels of press freedom in Africa. At the time, we were ranked number one out of 54 countries in Africa. We placed 23rd on the global ranking among 180 countries.
Three and half years later, we have slumped seven places on the global ranking and lost the number one spot in Africa to Namibia and Cape Verde. We have unfortunately lost this priceless status that made all of us very proud.
This should worry us- not only journalists and media owners but all of us, as citizens and as Ghanaians. As I said, when the freedom of the press is curtailed, democracy suffers. And all the other human rights that anchor our dignity as human beings are eroded. Without freedom, our dignity is trampled. This is why we need a free press as much as we need fresh air to breathe. So, let us all protect the freedom of the press.”
Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana
