The Acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, delivered an uncompromising message to the media fraternity at the 29th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards, asserting that the profession’s core values lie in sacrifice and steady commitment, not convenience.
Speaking at the historic event held at the Manhyia Palace on Saturday, November 8, 2025, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie lauded the media’s foundational role in democratic accountability but stressed that words must now transform into uncompromising national action.
Addressing the assembled journalists, media owners, and dignitaries, the Acting Chief Justice redefined the fundamental nature of journalism, equating its demanding ethical requirements to those of the judiciary.
“As we celebrate today and the awards, we must remember that journalism, just like justice, is not a profession of comfort, but one of service, sacrifice, and steadiness,” he said.
This statement served as a direct reminder that the profession’s mandate requires enduring hardship and maintaining consistency in the face of pressure, a sentiment particularly relevant in an era where journalists frequently face political and physical threats while covering issues like the central theme of the event on illegal mining.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie urged the media to move beyond mere critique and to ensure their reporting actively inspires tangible change in the nation’s civic and moral life.
He challenged practitioners to make their platforms catalysts for peace and development.
“As I have often said, speeches must remain something that is beyond words. They must stir us to action. For if they do not move us, they serve no purpose. So I say this afternoon, let this speech not end in mere applause but in awakening. Let every newsroom become a sanctuary of truth, every camera a mirror of conscience, and every microphone a trumpet for peace,” he stated.
Acknowledging the real dangers inherent in fearless reporting, the Chief Justice affirmed that the nation’s progress hinges on the courage of journalists to report unpalatable truths without compromise.
“The task before the media is not an easy one, but the destiny of a nation has always rested on the courage of those who speak truth to power and hold the mirror steadily, even when the reflection is painful,” he said.
This statement implicitly referenced the risks undertaken by investigative journalists, many of whom were honoured for their work on environmental and political corruption, often facing severe reprisal.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie concluded with a call for the media to join the collective action in protecting Ghana’s environment, particularly its polluted water bodies.
The theme of the awards was “Safeguarding Ghana’s future: The role of the media in promoting peace, security and the fight against galamsey.”
He used the state of Ghana’s rivers—the Pra, Densu, and Ankobra—as a barometer for the nation’s moral and civic health.
“If we defend peace with our words and rivers with our voices, the next time we gather here, the Pra, Densu, and even Ankobra will be smiling at us again,” the Acting Chief Justice concluded, linking media integrity directly to the cleanliness and survival of these vital natural resources.
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