The Director at the National Peace Council (NPC), Mrs Gina D. Samey, has urged the media to be circumspect in their reportage ahead of the 2020 polls.
According
to her, the media remains a critical pillar of Ghana’s democracy and as such they
must help sustain it by staying away from publishing stories that could ignite
tensions before, during and after the polls.
Speaking
at the maiden edition of Cine PlusTV’s public lecture series in Accra on Thursday,
Mrs Samey noted that the media must be reminded of how its conduct left some
countries on the African continent in ruins.
The
lecture, on the theme: ‘Conflict prevention and management in Ghana: The role
of management’ brought together security experts, media practitioners, civil
society organisations and students among other groups.
“You
must be circumspect in your reportage and avoid sensationalism, be ethical and
be responsive in what you put out,” she told the journalists among the
participants.
“There
is so much trust in the media that people take what it reports hook, line and
sinker and act accordingly, hence must be aware of its influence on people, to
media owners and managers, I task you to periodically organise refresher
courses for your reporters in conflict reportage,” Mrs Samey cautioned.
A
research fellow at the Kofi Annan International Peace-keeping Training Centre
(KAIPTC), Dr Festus Aubyn, for his part said the country must not take the
peace it was enjoying for granted because not everyone in the country wanted
peace.
“Beware
of entrepreneurs of war,” he warned explaining that “they are people
who benefit from war. It is during war situations that they get to seek their
weapons and undertake their illegal activities.”
The
General Manager of Cine Plus TV, Adu-Twum Kwame Sadiq, making reference to the
1994 Rwanda genocide believed to be instigated by the media said Ghana’s media
must enable stakeholders, not only active participation and determination of
what was in the interest of the public but ensure that their participation was
done responsibly and in furtherance of the public good.
Mr Adu-Twum said the freedom of expression and plurality of voices and dissenting views were expected to mobilise popular participation for good governance and that the media must not gloss over that.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
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