The minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, has called on media practitioners to guard against misinformation and disinformation, especially with the rise of social media.

Addressing a capacity-building workshop for members of the Private Newspaper and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) in Somanya on September 13, 2024, in the Eastern Region, under the theme “Empowering Journalists for Credible Elections: Enhancing Reporting and Fact-Checking Skills”, she emphasized the critical role of journalists in ensuring credible elections through accurate and ethical reporting.

The minister stressed the importance of responsible journalism to maintain public trust and ensure credible elections, particularly as the country approaches the crucial 2024 general elections.

“We are politicians; we bear some responsibility to make sure that after an election, we still have a country called Ghana. Of what use is a leader without his people, of what use is a shepherd without a flock? Of what use if there is no Ghana?

“So, at all costs, the brand Ghana, the peace, the security, the stability, and everything that will make us a country after an election should be prioritized ahead of our individual and personal interests,” she stated.

She urged journalists to prioritize fact-checking in their reporting, particularly in the lead-up to the upcoming elections.

The President of PRINPAG, Andrew Arthur, expressed concern over the high level of self-interest among media practitioners, which he believes has contributed to a disregard for journalistic ethics.

“These negative practices have diminished the pride of the media as the Fourth Estate of the realm and led to reduced patronage, particularly of private newspapers. Urgent measures are needed to reverse these trends, or the consequences for the industry will be disastrous.”

Kwame Asah-Asante, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Political Science and Director of the Centre for European Studies at the University of Ghana delivering a presentation on best practices in election coverage, reminded journalists of the importance of obtaining accreditation before visiting polling stations for security purposes.

The Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Baffour Appiah, warned against the dangers of misinformation, particularly during election periods.

Municipal Chief Executive for Yilo Krobo, Eric Tetteh, added, “In any profession, success comes from constant learning and adaptation.”

The workshop is part of PRINPAG’s ongoing efforts to enhance the professionalism of journalists ahead of the 2024 elections, ensuring that the media plays a vital role in promoting transparency and accountability in the electoral process.



AM/KA

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