Hot SourceThe Minister for Communication and Digitalisation, Samuel Nartey George has assured the media that government will not interfere with editorial independence, even as it tightens oversight of the nation’s fast-expanding media sector.
Speaking at the Africa Media Bureau forum on Friday (26 September), Sam George drew a sharp distinction between content creation and broadcast regulation.
“I cannot and will not, as the Minister for the Sector, seek to regulate what media outlets publish. Absolutely not. I will never do that. That is your democratically protected editorial discretion,” he declared to loud applause.
The minister explained that while journalists decide what to say, the state has a duty to regulate how it is transmitted to the public:
“What you say is yours, but how you say it is regulated by us.”
George said Ghana’s vibrant press remains a pillar of democracy but must guard against sensationalism and misinformation. He called on newsrooms to “sow the fruits of responsible journalism”, stressing that responsible reporting protects both media credibility and the nation’s democratic stability.
He condemned “shamans parading as men of God,” get-rich-quick schemes and sexually explicit broadcasts, warning that such content undermines public morality and trust.
“Money-doubling and get-rich-quick schemes have no place in our public broadcast. Pornographic and sexually explicit content masquerading as adult relationship shows cannot be allowed to continue soiling the innocence of our national airwaves,” he said.
George reiterated that the government is updating Ghana’s broadcasting framework to reflect “digital convergence”, where radio, television and internet-based broadcasting increasingly overlap. But he insisted that these reforms will not amount to censorship.
“We must work together within the remit of our mandates to ensure the protection and longevity of this democracy,” he said. “You must be responsible in your broadcast, and I must exercise caution in overseeing my regulatory responsibilities.”
By reaffirming editorial freedom while strengthening technical regulation, George said Ghana can preserve a media environment that is “both free and sane”, balancing innovation with public interest.
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