By Vivian Amoah
Deputy British High Commissioner to Ghana, Chris Halliday, has called on journalists to strengthen ethical journalism and build public trust as the media landscape evolves.
Speaking at the 77th anniversary symposium of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) at the British Council in Accra on August 19, 2026, Mr. Halliday congratulated the GJA on its anniversary and commended Ghana for its democratic progress and improved position on global press freedom rankings.
According to him, the challenges facing journalists today and in the future are different from those of previous generations, making it necessary for journalists to continually develop the skills needed to navigate the changing media environment.
He described the free press as “national infrastructure,” saying journalists connect society through the communication of facts and ideas, just as roads physically connect people.
Mr. Halliday warned that manipulation and the spread of doubt about the truth could become greater threats to media freedom than censorship. He stressed that trust would increasingly become a strategic asset for media organisations, with audiences favouring outlets they trust rather than those that simply publish information first.
He therefore described journalists as being on the front line of information security and responsible for protecting public trust and the integrity of the media.
Mr. Halliday said the United Kingdom, as a founding member of the Global Media Freedom Coalition, remained committed to working with Ghana, government, civil society, the diplomatic community and media organisations to promote media freedom and integrity.
He said ethical journalism was more important than ever and should serve as the foundation for strong, resilient and democratic societies.
He urged continued collaboration to support the development of a free, independent and responsible media in Ghana.
