The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has marked its 77th anniversary with a strong call for ethical journalism, press freedom and responsible adaptation to digital technology, as President Albert Dwumfour urged members to build on the Association’s legacy while preparing for the future of the media.
Speaking at the GJA at 77 Anniversary Symposium, Mr Dwumfour described the milestone as decades of service, sacrifice, advocacy and commitment to journalism and Ghana’s democratic development.
The theme of the event, “GJA at 77: Building on Our Legacy, Advancing Ethical Journalism and Shaping the Future of Digital Media,” he said, was both a celebration and a call to action.
“It invites us to look back with pride, examine the present with honesty and look into the future with courage and determination,” he said.
Mr Dwumfour paid tribute to past and present executives of the Association, acknowledging the foundation laid by previous leaders under often difficult circumstances.
He said those leaders gave their time, energy and expertise to build an institution capable of speaking for journalists, defending press freedom and promoting professional standards.
“As we mark this anniversary, I am reminded that those of us entrusted with leadership of the GJA are custodians, not owners, of this institution,” he said. “We inherited an Association built through sacrifice, advocacy and professional commitment, and our duty is to strengthen it and hand it over in better shape to the next generation.”
The GJA President stressed that the Association must continue to provide professional development, guidance and support for journalists, while insisting that members also uphold the standards that protect the credibility of the profession.
He noted that for 77 years the GJA has advocated for an environment in which journalists can work without fear, intimidation or undue interference, and has defended the principle that a free press is essential to democracy and accountable governance.
Mr Dwumfour said the Association has organised training programmes, workshops and stakeholder engagements, spoken against attacks on media practitioners and used its annual Media Awards to recognise excellence in Ghanaian journalism.
He emphasised that press freedom remains central to the GJA’s mandate, but must be accompanied by responsibility.
“The credibility of the media depends on accuracy, fairness, balance, independence, accountability and respect for the dignity and rights of others,” he said.
Addressing the impact of technology, Mr Dwumfour said artificial intelligence and digital tools offer opportunities for research, transcription, data analysis and other newsroom tasks, but also pose risks such as misinformation, deepfakes and fabricated content.
“The GJA’s position is clear: technology must serve journalism; it must not destroy the values that make journalism worthy of public trust,” he said.
He stressed that the human journalist remains central, noting that curiosity, judgement, courage and conscience cannot be replaced by machines.
Mr Dwumfour also highlighted the need to address the welfare and sustainability of journalists, saying excellent journalism cannot be expected from professionals working under persistent insecurity.
He announced that entries for the 30th GJA Media Awards would open the following week and would be received through the Association’s new website as part of its digital transformation agenda.
He urged members in good standing to prepare their best work for submission and called on corporate Ghana to partner with the Association for the historic edition of the awards.
Looking ahead, Mr Dwumfour said the GJA would continue to strengthen professional development, intensify advocacy for journalist safety and press freedom, promote ethical journalism and support digital innovation.
“At 77, therefore, our message is simple: the GJA is not retiring. We are renewing,” he said. “We are renewing our commitment to press freedom, ethical journalism, journalist safety, innovation and the development of Ghana.”
The symposium was attended by government officials, media leaders, development partners and representatives of the diplomatic community.
