A senior member of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Kwame Jantuah has made a passionate appeal for respect towards the work of the media, noting the importance of press freedom in maintaining a healthy democracy.

Speaking at a JoyNews national dialogue focused on defending media freedom, Mr Jantuah highlighted that the freedoms granted by the media in the constitution should not be taken for granted, as doing so could have serious consequences for society.

He stressed that the police should not misuse their power, reminding them that their role is to serve the people and protect their rights.

"If for nothing at all, let us respect the work of the media. Without the media, we hear nothing, our ears are deaf," Jantuah stated on Thursday, August 29.

This appeal comes at a time when media freedom is increasingly under threat.

Mr Jantuah also called for continuous discussions on press freedom throughout the year, not just during election periods. He believes that the dialogue is essential for educating the youth and the younger generation about the significance of media in society.

To illustrate his point, Jantuah shared a personal story about his sister, Nana Yaa Jantuah, who pursued a career in journalism at their father's advice, despite initially wanting to become a lawyer.

He expressed that any harm to her or other journalists would personally affect him, reinforcing his commitment to supporting the media to ensure that the right things are done to protect their work.

"If anything happens to her, for me, it will hurt me so I need to support journalists so that the right thing is done," he said.