Journalists urged to use internet for development

Professor Kwame Karikari, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), has advised journalists to use the internet to promote development and enlighten the society.

He said the internet which is a latest technology for human development should be allowed to be used to the fullest without any restrictions.

Prof Karikari said this on Thursday when the MFWA met with the 2013 Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Award winners in Accra.

The meeting also discussed topics such as internet and the media in Ghana and Ghana’s internet environment, prospects, challenges and way forward.

He said there should be appropriate measures to ensure that there is enough freedom to use internet.

Prof Karikari spoke against the situation where some politicians have taken advantage of press freedom and have become purveyors of bad language.

He urged the media to resist any attempt by politicians to use their medium to promote bad language.

He commended the journalists for winning the GJA awards in their various fields.

Mr Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, Engineering Manager at the National Communications Authority (NCA) who spoke on the topic: “Internet freedoms, Rights and Policies in Ghana,” said there is no law or policy that restricts the use of internet or censor it.

He said plans are far advanced by the NCA to expand access to internet from the current target of 40 per cent to 100 per cent.

He said the NCA is also working assiduously to ensure that there is internet penetration to the rural communities across the country.

The MFWA presented books on journalism and media freedoms to the all the award winners.

Source: GNA