PROGRESSIVE JOURNALIST UNION BACKS MILLS

Progressive Journalists Union Of Ghana (Pro-JUG)Tel: 0244 822034, 0243 66 36 50 http://www.projug.blogspot.com/ email: projug@gmail.com

SPEECH READ BY MR. RICHARD ADINKRA OF PROGRESSIVE JOURNALISTS UNION OF GHANA (PRO-JUG) ON THE DECLARATION OF SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC), HELD ON THE 18TH DECEMBER 2008 AT BUSY INTERNET AUDITORIUM.

Colleague members of the Media,Ladies and GentlemenAll protocols observed,It is my pleasure to welcome you on behalf of the PROGRESSIVE JOURNALISTS UNION OF GHANA (PRO-JUG), to this press conference.The Progressive Journalists Union of Ghana (Pro-JUG) is an association of like minded and progressive journalists who have come together to fight a common purpose, which is to promote the welfare of the Ghanaian journalists and to restore public confidence in journalism in Ghana. Our membership cuts across the entire country.Our aims among others include:• Seeking the welfare of all practicing journalists.• Upholding high journalistic standards and professionalism in the country.• Restoring public confidence in journalists.• Creating and maintaining good working relationship and mutual understanding among journalists• To consistently addressing issues of national interest.• Championing the course of democracy, good governance and human rights in and outside the country. •Ladies, Gentlemen and fellow media practitioners, as journalists we are in a unique position to shape the direction and destiny of this country and we can only do this to the fullest if we are given the room to operate on fair playing field.We are all witnesses to the selective favouritism being exhibited currently in the country by the government and the ruling party. Sadly enough not even the almighty media has been spared of this.Journalism has been divided along political lines and obviously this does not auger well for the democratic dispensation of this country. This is why we have all converged here today to declare our support for Prof. John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills.We of Pro-JUG have critically assessed and concluded that among the two giants in the run-off, it is only the NDC that can redeem the sinking image of our noble profession. Indeed we need total change in the way politics is done in this country. We need a change from selective favouritism and we have realized that Prof. Mills and the NDC represent this change.We believe that among the two major parties contesting the presidential run-off in this year’s elections, the needs of Ghanaian journalists would be effectively addressed under Professor John Evans Atta Mills and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) than under Nana Akufo Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).Even though it is an undeniable truth that the NDC did not have a palatable relationship with the media in the past, the party has proven to us all in recent times that it has the media at heart and wants it to work in an independent atmosphere. This could be seen in its endeavours in shunning away from financially influencing the media, an act which is evident in the current NPP administration and which is bound to continue in Nana Akufo Addo’s administration if he is retained. After all, he has consistently promised to continue what President Kufuor has done. Ladies and Gentlemen, after our assessment, we can confidently say to the whole world that the national executives of the NDC led by its presidential candidate Prof. Atta Mills, have exhibited an enormous care, and willingness to work with journalists and all who matter in the development of our great country to ensure a better Ghana for all.As an association of journalists, we have carefully studied the manifestoes of the two political parties in the race, we have assessed their personalities and weighed their leadership experiences and are convinced that the best interest of Ghana would be well served under Prof. Atta Mills and the NDC government which has the policy of investing in people, jobs and the economy. We are therefore urging our entire membership across the country as well as all journalists and media practitioners and the general Ghanaian electorate to vote massively for Prof. John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills and the NDC for A BETTER GHANA. Thank you very much and may you vote wisely.Contact persons: 0244 822034, 0243 66 36 50

ACTING EXECUTIVES PRESIDENT -KWADWO ASARI BAFFOUR-

VICE-PRESIDENT- JEORGE WILSON KINGSON

GENERAL SECRETARY-KOFI AHOVI

Source:Progressive Journalists Union