The Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Sir Sam Jonah, has charged Ghanaian journalists and media practitioners to defend the country's democracy by not keeping quiet on critical issues affecting the country's governance system.

For him, media practitioners in Ghana should be the standard-bearers of objectivity, the architects of informed discourse, and the unyielding defenders of freedom and truth.

He said media practitioners should be "concerned about some disturbing developments in our national discourse," adding that "In this era, where the essence of our democracy and the fabric of our society are tested, let us recommit ourselves to the principles that Ephraim Amu so eloquently espoused."

Sir Sam Jonah was speaking at the launch of the 75th anniversary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Accra Today [Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

The 75th anniversary of GJA is being celebrated on the theme: "75 years of excellence in journalism: Past, present, and the future."

He also encouraged media practitioners to use their platforms to speak on issues such as the perceived weaponisation of state agencies against opponents, the creeping assault on freedom of the press, the perceived lack of trust in the dispensation of justice, and the pathetic lack of accountability in the protection of the public purse.

"This is the time for patriots to find their voices," he said, adding "This is the time to be fearless and courageous. We cannot and must not compromise on our defence of the national interest."

For Sir Sam Jonah, "the success of our attempt at a democratic order will depend crucially on how free the press is."