Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Chief Executive Officer of the Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF), an anti-corruption media advocacy non-governmental organisation, said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.

May 3, marks the World Press Freedom Day as declared by the United Nations General Assembly back in 1993.

It is set aside to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom to evaluate press freedom around the world to defend the media from attacks.

Mr Ahenu said journalists would be free from violence and to contribute to peace, sustainability, poverty eradication and human rights, if the media remained neutral and are guided by acceptable standards.

He said since the media continues to be a major influence in globalization, there is the need to strengthen free and quality journalism to enable the practitioners and reporters to contribute effectively to nation building.

Speaking on the theme for the 2017 World Press Freedom Day “Justice for all as a prerequisite for freedom of expression and sustainable development”, Mr Ahenu said  African journalists would get support from the society if they discharged their duties in a more responsive and professional manner.

He said the media could contribute significantly to accelerated national development if it worked in tandem with the fundamental principles of contemporary journalism.