The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has urged Ghanaian journalists to hold power to account while resisting the spread of misinformation and hate speech. He made the call at The Palms Convention Centre, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, on Saturday, November 7, 2026, during the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards. Mr. Bagbin commended journalists for investigations into galamsey, corruption, human rights abuses, and child abuse in schools.
Mr. Bagbin described power as "a monster that must be properly managed" and cautioned that the power to inform must never become the power to misinform. He quoted American journalist Amy Goodman, telling the media to be "watchdogs and not lapdogs." The Speaker expressed concern about the digital age, where every smartphone user is a potential broadcaster, and warned that social media anonymity and unverified commentary were being used to stoke ethnic tensions and polarize communities.
The Speaker also emphasized the media's responsibility to filter out hatred and provide citizens with verified facts. He assured journalists that "the House is your house" and that Parliament's doors remain open to facilitate access to information and professional coverage. Mr. Bagbin urged reporters to move beyond sensational political exchanges to explain the substance of legislation and the impact of public policy on ordinary Ghanaians.
The event was attended by President John Dramani Mahama, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who is Patron of the Awards, the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, and Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie. The Speaker congratulated the nominees and winners, calling on them to keep "the torch of professional integrity high" and to help prevent Ghana from sliding into a place where the line between truth and falsehood disappears.
Mr. Bagbin reiterated Parliament's readiness to work with the GJA and other stakeholders on a Private Member's Bill to improve journalists' working conditions. He stressed that law enforcement agencies, political actors, media owners, traditional authorities, and citizens all share responsibility for protecting journalists. The Speaker commended the GJA, led by its President, Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, for sustaining the awards tradition and advocating for the safety, welfare, and professional development of journalists.
The media, Mr. Bagbin said, remains an indispensable safeguard of the country's democracy. He encouraged journalists to continue investigating and reporting on critical issues, while maintaining professional integrity and resisting the spread of misinformation and hate speech. The Speaker's call is seen as a significant move to promote responsible journalism and protect Ghana's democracy.
Key stakeholders, including the President, traditional leaders, and the Chief Justice, were present at the event, underscoring the importance of the media in Ghana's democratic process. The 30th GJA Media Awards celebrated outstanding journalism and recognized the contributions of journalists to Ghana's development. Three key points from the Speaker's address are: the media's role in holding power to account, the need to resist the spread of misinformation and hate speech, and the importance of maintaining professional integrity.
Key points
- The Speaker of Parliament urges Ghanaian journalists to be watchdogs, not lapdogs.
- The media is called upon to guard against hate speech and promote verified facts.
- Parliament is ready to work with stakeholders to improve journalists' working conditions.
