Asantehene warns of ‘new media threat’ to journalism, national values

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has voiced strong concern over the growing influence of new media, warning that its unchecked spread could endanger traditional journalism, national cohesion, and moral standards.

Speaking at a dinner to mark the 29th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards at the Manhyia Palace on Saturday, 8 November, the Asantehene said the proliferation of unregulated online media had created a crisis of credibility and integrity in the information space.

Otumfuo cautioned that while freedom of expression is fundamental to democracy, it must operate within the rule of law.

“Any form of media, new or old, operating without legal constraint is potentially a direct threat to democracy,” he warned. “The rule of law must guide every sector, including the media.”

He urged policymakers, regulators, and journalists to hold frank discussions about how to uphold ethical standards while adapting to the digital age.

The King lamented what he described as a moral and linguistic decline in modern media, saying that the tone and content of public discourse were shaping a generation disconnected from Ghana’s cultural values.

“Our cherished traditional values have been swept away in a slurry of language unfit for humankind,” he said. “When you fill the mind with garbage, the brain is shaped in garbage — and the outcome is nothing but garbage.”

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II called on journalists, educators, and policymakers to launch a national dialogue aimed at restoring professionalism and dignity to journalism.

The Asantehene’s remarks come at a time when fake news, online sensationalism, and declining ethical standards are increasingly seen as threats to Ghana’s democratic and cultural foundations.