The Catholic Standard Newspaper has celebrated its 80th Anniversary in Accra to appreciate and reward its promoters, subscribers and staff for their immense contribution towards the sustainability of the paper.
The Catholic Standard, formerly the ‘Standard,’ writes on variety of issues including health, politics, education, and feature articles on the Church’s liturgy, life of the Saints, and reflections on Sunday readings.
The celebration, held on Wednesday, awarded the overall winner, first and second runner-ups under its national category.
Christ the King Parish in Accra, led by Reverend Father Andrew Campbell, emerged the overall winner, followed by Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Adenta and Ola Cathedral in Tamale.
The overall winner received a trophy, a citation and a present, whilst the second and third positions received plaques, citations and presents.
Other categories awarded were leading vendors, promoters, columnist, writers, advertisers and job providers.
There were also awards for staff, former editors and special contributors.
Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, the Immediate Past Chairman of the National Media Commission, who was the Guest Speaker, said the Catholic Standard, years ago, enabled the voices government wished to silence to be heard.
Speaking on the theme: “The Catholic Standard, 80 Years of Promoting Integral Human Development in Ghana,” Nana Gyan-Appenteng said it had exhibited commitment to ethical integrity by speaking the truth and giving a voice to the voiceless during the Military Regime.
“I suggest that the Catholic Standard emulates its old self, because it has shrunk its editorial outreach and retreated from the battlefront, perhaps in the belief that the battle had been won,” he said.
Nana Gyan-Apenteng advised journalists to rise up and face evils in the society as a result of corruption, nepotism, superstition, ignorance, and poverty.
He asked them to raise the banners of better democracy, enlightenment, truth, human dignity and social justice.
Most Reverend Matthew Gyamfi, the Bishop of Sunyani and Episcopal Chairman of Social Communication of the Church, who chaired the function, said with the increasing competition from electronic media, newspapers are facing dwindling circulation globally and the Catholic Standard was no exception.
“Disappointedly, the reading culture among the youth in Ghana is at low ebb, but I would like to appeal to all Catholics to read the Catholic Standard since it’s your paper and reflects the Catholic teachings,” he said.
Archbishop Emeritus Peter Akwasi Sarpong, the Archbishop of Kumasi Diocese, said journalists have the responsibility to give constructive criticisms on issues of national interest, adding that the most important of all was the virtue of truth.
He advised media outlets engaged in publishing pornographic materials, especially videos and pictures, to desist from the act, as they were having negative impacts on the youth.
Emeritus Archbishop Sarpong advised journalists to desist from publishing or broadcasting what would be a threat to national security such as sensational issues of political parties and tribal conflicts.