Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), underscored the vital role of the media in Ghana’s democratic governance and national development.
In a recent address during the “Bawumia Hosts the Media” event held on Sunday, August 25, 2024, at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra, Dr. Bawumia highlighted the NPP’s historic commitment to enhancing media freedom and its role in fostering a vibrant democracy. He stated,
The NPP views the media as an important ally in our national development agenda and our quest to expand the frontiers of democratic governance in Ghana.
Reflecting on past achievements, Dr. Bawumia recalled that under President John Kufuor’s leadership, the NPP repealed the criminal libel law, a significant step in allowing the media to operate freely and effectively. He also acknowledged President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration for enacting the Right to Information Law, which further supported the media’s role in ensuring transparency and accountability.
It was thus the MPP, under President John Kufuor, that repealed the criminal libel law to allow, in addition to the rights guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution for the media to fully perform its functions again. Another NPP, President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, passed the right to information law to enhance the work of the media.
Dr. Bawumia reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining a strong partnership with the media as the new leader of the NPP, stating,
We are partners with you, and a partnership I will continue to keep as the new leader of the NPP.
This statement underscores the NPP’s ongoing dedication to supporting media freedom and its recognition of the media’s essential role in Ghana’s democratic and developmental processes.
