Skip to main content

Forty journalists die in line of duty in 2014

Regina Benneh Siaw, GNA special correspondent, New York

More than 40 journalists and media staff have been killed around the world with many more being held hostage or simply disappearing.

Mr Sam Kutesa, UN General Asembly President, who made this known to the press at the World Press Freedom Day in New York, said the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was clear on the freedom for all to seek, receive and impart information, regardless of borders.

The World Press Freedom Day is celebrated annually on May 3 in recognition of courageous journalists who worked in dangerous environments to tell the important stories the world needs to hear.

“These men and women go about their critical work in often inhospitable environments, from the comfort and safety of our homes and workplaces, we can learn about important issues around the world including some dark and troubling events,” he said.

He said journalists bridged the information gap and through that work the world learnt about important discoveries and innovations.

Mr Kutesa said without journalists, citizens would have difficulty knowing about positive developments in the furthest corners of the world.

He urged all member states to do their utmost to uphold these rights for the press and media staff.
“We must strive to guarantee these universal standards,” he said.

On the importance of freedom of the press, Kaha Imnadze, Chairperson of the UN Committee on Information and Permanent Representative of Georgia to the UN, said the importance of free flow of information to the functioning of the Organisation and ensuring gender equality for lasting peace must be respected.

“Everyone must be free to seek, receive and impart knowledge and information on all media, online and offline. Quality journalism enables citizens to make informed decisions about their society’s development. It also works to expose injustice, corruption, and the abuse of power,” he said.  

Some journalists at function called on member states, international and regional organisations, corporations and other entities to promote an enabling environment safe for media organisations and their employees to operate freely without fear of intimidation or harassment.

Credit:GNA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vodafone sells 45% shares in Verizon for US$130 billion

Vodafone has sold its 45% stake in Verizon Wireless to US telecoms group Verizon Communications in one of the biggest deals in corporate history. The US$130 billion (£84bn) deal was announced by Vodafone after the close of trading on the London Stock Exchange. The company will return £54 billion to its shareholders, of which £22 billionn will go to shareholders in the UK. Vodafone will also invest money in its business, with funds earmarked for high speed mobile phone networks. It said that by 2017 its main five European markets would have almost complete 4G coverage. Possibly it would be wrong to carp and wring hands that Vodafone won't be paying a penny of tax to the British taxman” Vodafone group chairman Gerard Kleisterlee said: "The transaction will position Vodafone strongly to pursue our leadership strategy in mobile and unified communication services for consumers and enterprises, both in our developed markets and across our emerging markets businesses." The...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shortage of weighing cards hit major hospitals in Accra

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong- Daily Express There is scarcity of Child Health Records Book (weighing cards), in some major public hospitals in the capital, information reaching the Daily Express indicates. Checks by this paper revealed that while some of the hospitals have being encountering the shortage for about a year now, others started experiencing it six months ago. In place of the Child Health Record Book (weighing card), the nursing mothers are given a single card on which information of children are recorded on it. Those hospitals identified are the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle Bu Polyclinic, Kaneshie Polyclinic, Adabraka Polyclinic and the Ridge Hospital. At the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the nursing mothers are given yellow cards in place of the weighing cards. The Public Relations Secretariat at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital said such information has not come to their notice and for that matter they cannot comment on it. “We do not have some ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Barbering Salons, bridging the unemployment gap in Ghana

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong Barbering business in Ghana is money making venture, depending on the location of the shop. Various barbering shops scattered across the country charges according to the location of the shop. The nature and sustainability of every barbering shop depends on the location of the shop. The location will determine how much one can charge a customer for barbering his or her hair. Checks indicate that some barbering shops located at Spintex, East Legon and Osu Oxford street charges between GHc15.00 and GHc20.00 per hair cut. At South La Estate, it will cost a customer to pay GHc4.00 for hair cut, while one will have to pay GHc3.00 to barber his or her hair at a place like Nima, Maamobi and Mallam Gbawe. Royal Vulture Executive Barbering Salon is one of the biggest barbering salons one can locate within Accra. One is its shops is located at Madina, near Taxi rank while one is located at Accra New Town, near the Post Office. Customers at Madina pay GHc7.00 ...
7 comments
Read more