Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie, outgoing Minister of Information and National Orientation, used the platform of her last official assignment in that capacity, to address a number of concerns. They included allegations in sections of the media that she ordered a live Good Evening Ghana programme on Metro TV not to be re-telecast. "My Ministry does not exercise editorial control over any press house in the country," she stated in a rebuttal of the accusation ahead of her address at the World Press Freedom Day celebration in Accra yesterday. This year’s celebration was on the global theme: "Freedom of the press, empowerment and participation of the people." Sections of the media reportedly accused Mrs Sai-Cofie of ordering Metro TV not re-telecast a panel discussion on the just ended UNCTAD XII conference on Good Evening Ghana programme in which one of the panelists had criticised the government on the acquisition of a presidential jet. During that programme, it is alleged that a minister of state had gone to Metro TV to question the host why the panellist who had challenged the government on the acquisition of the jet was invited. Mrs Sai-Cofie said no media house contacted her for her version or to find out the veracity of the story but went on to castigate her over what she had no knowledge about. She said although in the face of the media accusations, Metro TV came out to refute the allegation, such false information about public figures does not only tarnish their image but also erodes public confidence in the media. The minister therefore urged the media to cross check their facts and find out the veracity of any issue before they publish it. Turning to the day’s function, Mrs Sai-Cofie expressed regret about the low turnout at the ceremony. She said considering the freedom in which the press operates which has made Ghana the toast of other countries, one would have expected journalists to have attended a function dedicated to press freedom in their numbers to demonstrate the significance of a free press to democracy and development of the nation. She commended the media for their role in promoting democracy and development saying the government recognises this role and assures all practitioners that government will continue to create even better playing field and work together with them to find ways and means of making work lucrative. The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Ransford Tetteh said the GJA considers the election year’s edition of the World Press Freedom Day a very special occasion. He said the GJA finds this year’s theme most appropriate and relevant to the current Ghanaian situation, adding that it is a reminder to journalists not to be complacent about the country’s democracy. They should rather be mindful of recent challenges confronting some African countries as a result of ill organised elections. He said the occasion also places a responsibility on the government and people of the country to respect and uphold to the rights to freedom of expression as enshrined in chapter 5 and 12 of the constitution and under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Source: The Ghanaian Times