President John Dramani Mahama has urged security agencies and state officials to adopt a more cooperative approach with journalists while unveiling plans to revitalise state-owned media and strengthen Ghana’s national development.

Delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address on Friday, 27 February, President Mahama emphasised accountability, civic responsibility, and the need for citizens to unite behind national progress.

“I have called on our security personnel to take firm action and to reorient their men and women on the need to be accommodating to journalists who are only doing their job of keeping citizens informed,” he said.

Highlighting the historical underfunding and deteriorating infrastructure of Ghana’s state-owned media, the President said: “I recently toured these media houses to learn about their challenges firsthand. We are currently putting together a revitalisation plan to leverage their valuable assets and re-inject life into their operations.”

He confirmed that the Media Development Fund is being reconsidered to support the sustainability and growth of the Ghanaian media landscape.

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Reflecting on his recent visit to Zambia, President Mahama recalled how Ghana successfully managed a cultural mislabeling issue on social media, turning potential ridicule into an opportunity for diplomacy and national pride.

“We corrected the record with speed and confidence. We turned confusion into connection, and a fleeting social media frenzy into a handshake of friendship with our Zambian brothers and sisters,” he said.

The President emphasised that unity in cultural moments must translate into unity for national development.

“Our pursuit of national development demands that same unity of purpose. We must act as one people with one purpose,” he concluded.