NCA Urges Journalists to Safeguard Trust and Ethics in the Digital Age

The Director General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, has urged journalists and media practitioners to safeguard public trust by upholding the principles of accuracy, fairness, accountability and verification as digital technologies continue to transform the media landscape.

He made the call at the Ghana Journalists Association’s (GJA) 77th Anniversary Symposium held at the British Council in Accra, under the theme, “Building on Our Legacy: Advancing Ethical Journalism and Shaping the Future of Digital Media.”

Speaking at the event, Rev Ing. Edmund Y. Fianko stated that while the platforms and technologies through which journalism is produced and consumed will continue to evolve, the fundamental public purpose of journalism remains unchanged.

“Let trust remain the profession’s most valuable heritage. Platforms will change, devices will change, business models will change, but the public’s need for information that is accurate, fair and responsibly presented will remain,” he said.

Turning to the role of the NCA within the evolving digital media ecosystem, Rev. Ing. Fianko explained that the Authority’s mandate contributes to the development and maintenance of the electronic communications infrastructure on which digital media increasingly depends.

He noted that the NCA’s responsibilities in managing spectrum, authorising communications services, promoting quality connectivity and protecting consumers are critical to ensuring that the opportunities presented by digital media are accessible across the country.

“A journalist in a rural community must be able to gather and transmit a story as effectively as a journalist in Accra. Closing the digital divide is therefore not only an economic or technological objective; it is essential to inclusion, civic participation and democratic life,” he noted.

Addressing concerns about quality of service, including dropped calls, slow data speeds and inadequate coverage in some communities, the Director General indicated that the NCA is working with Mobile Network Operators to address the identified challenges.

He stated that remedial measures being implemented include expanding capacity at existing sites and constructing new ones. He added that more than 500 new sites are currently being built this year, while several existing sites have been upgraded. He assured the public that the Authority would continue to monitor implementation and hold operators accountable for completing the required improvements.

Rev. Ing. Fianko also underscored the NCA’s recognition of the constitutional importance of media freedom and freedom of expression.

He clarified that the regulation of electronic communications infrastructure should not be confused with the editorial regulation of journalism, which falls within the mandate of the National Media Commission (NMC).

He further emphasised that the NCA’s interventions would continue to be grounded in law, transparent in purpose and respectful of the distinct roles of institutions within Ghana’s democratic framework.

Rev. Ing. Edmund Y. Fianko congratulated the President, executives and entire membership of the GJA, both past and present, on the Association’s 77th anniversary and commended its contribution to journalism and Ghana’s democratic development.

He urged the profession to continue embracing innovation without compromising the ethical values on which public confidence in journalism depends.

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