Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has urged journalists to remain committed to their watchdog role by holding public officials accountable rather than becoming aligned with those in power.
He said the media remains an essential pillar of Ghana’s constitutional democracy and must continue to subject the exercise of political power to scrutiny, checks and accountability.
Addressing the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards at the Palms Convention Centre at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra on Saturday, November 7, 2026, Speaker Bagbin said democracy cannot flourish where public institutions operate without scrutiny and citizens are denied access to information.
“Power is a monster that must be properly managed,” he stated, emphasising the importance of an independent media in ensuring accountability in public administration.
Quoting American investigative journalist Amy Goodman, the Speaker said: “It is not the media’s job to cozy up to power. We’re supposed to be the check and balance on government.”
He consequently urged journalists to be “watchdogs and not lapdogs”, insisting that their responsibility to hold public officials accountable should not be compromised by political or commercial interests.
Speaker Bagbin commended Ghanaian journalists for their contributions to exposing corruption, human rights abuses and institutional misconduct through investigative, undercover and data-driven reporting.
He particularly acknowledged media investigations into illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, and abuses within educational institutions, noting that such efforts had triggered policy corrections and strengthened administrative accountability.
However, he cautioned that the media’s power to inform should not be abused to spread misinformation or destroy reputations through falsehood.
“The freedom to criticise must never be confused with the licence to destroy reputations through falsehood,” he said.
The Speaker also urged journalists to guard against the spread of hate speech and misinformation, particularly through social media platforms, warning that unverified online commentary could fuel ethnic tensions and deepen divisions within the country.
He called on the media to prioritise verified information, factual reporting and constructive dialogue to promote national cohesion.
Speaker Bagbin further stressed the need to improve the working conditions and safety of journalists, arguing that media practitioners should not be expected to defend democracy while facing poor remuneration, job insecurity, intimidation and threats to their personal safety.
He reiterated Parliament’s readiness to work with the GJA and other stakeholders to explore legislative and policy interventions to strengthen the professional environment for journalism in Ghana.
The 30th edition of the GJA Media Awards brought together President John Dramani Mahama, Ga Mantse King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Chief Justice Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie and other distinguished personalities to celebrate excellence in journalism.
The awards recognise outstanding contributions to journalism and promote professionalism, ethical standards and media freedom in Ghana.
