Asantehene Expresses Worry Over Falling Journalistic Standar...

Asantehene Expresses Worry Over Falling Journalistic Standards

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has raised concerns about the spate of deterioration in professionalism in the media landscape. At a dinner organised as part of the 29th Ghana Journalists Association media awards on November 8, 2025, held in Kumasi, the King highlighted the growing fall in standards and blatant disregard for laws in the practice of journalism. “How worried should we be about the potential hijacking of the media profession by professional hustlers and the potential extinction of the professional time? Second, can the media afford to operate without regard to the law of the state?” It was the case of His Majesty that any form of media operating outside the bounds of the law is potentially a direct threat to democracy. “Let me be clear. The rule of law is the foundation of democracy. We cannot have a vital part of our society which is exempt from the rule of law; therefore, any form of media, new or old, operating without any legal constraint is potentially a direct threat to democracy. “It is important for us as a sovereign nation to ensure respect for and compliance with our laws and traditions across the board, and just as we expect to curb impunity in public life, so we will do well to curb impunity in the media space.” The Asantehene further threw light on the grave implications of the takeover of the media space by unprofessionals, calling it a “great deal”. The King stated that it is a threat to the stability and cohesion of the state as well as the minds of the younger generation. “Our cherished traditional values have been swept away in a slurry of language unfit for the human mind. Our forefathers knew that just like food shapes the physical man, what we imbibe and communicate defines what shapes our brains. That is why their values placed emphasis on language that is less than wholesome. “Ironically, this has also emerged as the basic truth of the computer world, exemplified in the famous phrase that defines the merit of the computer: ‘Garbage in, Garbage out.’ It means that when you fill the mind with garbage and filth, the brain can also be shaped in garbage, and the output you can produce is nothing but garbage.” Journalism Honour Preservation His Majesty suggested that a serious dialogue be convened by the GJA to find a pathway to the preservation of the honour of the profession. “I can think of no assured professional that would wish to be contaminated with such a slurry, so it must be in the interest of each one of us that efforts are made to clear the slurry and allow the profession to retain its honour.” Story by Hajara Fuseini

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has raised concerns about the spate of deterioration in professionalism in the media landscape.

At a dinner organised as part of the 29th Ghana Journalists Association media awards on November 8, 2025, held in Kumasi, the King highlighted the growing fall in standards and blatant disregard for laws in the practice of journalism.

“How worried should we be about the potential hijacking of the media profession by professional hustlers and the potential extinction of the professional time? Second, can the media afford to operate without regard to the law of the state?”

It was the case of His Majesty that any form of media operating outside the bounds of the law is potentially a direct threat to democracy.

“Let me be clear. The rule of law is the foundation of democracy. We cannot have a vital part of our society which is exempt from the rule of law; therefore, any form of media, new or old, operating without any legal constraint is potentially a direct threat to democracy.

“It is important for us as a sovereign nation to ensure respect for and compliance with our laws and traditions across the board, and just as we expect to curb impunity in public life, so we will do well to curb impunity in the media space.”

The Asantehene further threw light on the grave implications of the takeover of the media space by unprofessionals, calling it a “great deal”.

The King stated that it is a threat to the stability and cohesion of the state as well as the minds of the younger generation.

“Our cherished traditional values have been swept away in a slurry of language unfit for the human mind. Our forefathers knew that just like food shapes the physical man, what we imbibe and communicate defines what shapes our brains. That is why their values placed emphasis on language that is less than wholesome.

“Ironically, this has also emerged as the basic truth of the computer world, exemplified in the famous phrase that defines the merit of the computer: ‘Garbage in, Garbage out.’ It means that when you fill the mind with garbage and filth, the brain can also be shaped in garbage, and the output you can produce is nothing but garbage.”

Journalism Honour Preservation
His Majesty suggested that a serious dialogue be convened by the GJA to find a pathway to the preservation of the honour of the profession.

“I can think of no assured professional that would wish to be contaminated with such a slurry, so it must be in the interest of each one of us that efforts are made to clear the slurry and allow the profession to retain its honour.”

Story by Hajara Fuseini