Former President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Affail Monney, has urged media houses to carefully select their most capable journalists for tonight’s Presidential Media Encounter, stressing the need for probing and well-prepared questions rather than flattery.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated event, Mr. Monney emphasised that the performance of journalists on such a national platform reflects the standards of their respective organisations.
“In certain media houses, standards are appreciably high, and in other media houses, standards are abysmally low. But it behoves any media organisation to ensure that they field the right calibre of journalists who go and ask probing questions,” he stated.
He challenged reporters to rise to the occasion, saying tonight’s session is an opportunity to hold leadership accountable.
“Tonight, it’s a night for journalists to do justice to their professional mettle by asking the questions preoccupying the generation of Ghanaians and also probing, forcing officials to come up with the right answers,” he said.
Appeal for Proper Preparation
Mr. Monney appealed to media organisations to select their finest reporters and ensure they come well-prepared.
“We are appealing to media organisations, please make sure that the best journalists will be allowed to ask the questions,” he said.
He advised journalists to have backup questions ready and to avoid repetition.
“And if you are not obliged to ask questions, you may go with one or two questions prepared. So if someone asks those questions, you are not obliged to repeat them. We are expecting that the group of journalists who have the privilege of sitting with the President will not disappoint Ghanaians.”
Key Issues to Address
Mr Monney highlighted several pressing national matters he believes deserve answers, including the recent removal of the former Chief Justice, which has sparked debate.
“Many suggestions have been given that constitutional provisions were followed to the letter. And there are those who also read politics into it; according to them, we need the veneer of legality, without the occurrence of politics.
Will the President also explain to Ghanaians, convince Ghanaians, why he did what he did, even though constitutionally he’s enjoined to act on Article 146 clause 9, which says the President shall act on recommendations by a committee?” he asked.
On the economy, Mr. Monney called for clarity on the cedi’s performance. “The economy started well, but the cedi is now something else. It took off as the best currency and now the worst. So what explains the epileptic behaviour of the cedi? The President should also explain that to us,” he noted.
He also urged journalists to ask about the government’s “Big Push” programme, questioning whether it is “mere rhetoric or a concrete programme which will help fix our unparalleled deficit.”
Other areas he mentioned include the performance of presidential appointees, as well as concerns over Ghana’s declining scores on democracy and peace indices.
“There are certain sanctions which give people cause for concern. We are declining on a democratic index. We are declining on a peace index. What should be done to address this decline, which has served as a stain on our democracy?” he questioned.
Read also: Mahama to host media encounter on September 10
Presidential Encounter Scheduled for Tonight
President John Mahama is set to host the Presidential Media Encounter tonight, Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. at the Presidency.
The event will provide a platform for the President to address key national concerns, outline policies, and update Ghanaians on his Resetting Ghana Agenda and ongoing projects.