The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association, (GIBA) has held a one day workshop in Accra to sensitize media practitioners on the need for responsible reportage before, during and after the November presidential and parliamentary elections.
The event which was held within the premises of the United Nations Development Program, UNDP in Accra was attended by a cross section of various media houses including the electronic, print and online portals ready to be armed with the desire to engage in proper and responsible coverage of election 2016.
Addressing the participants, chairman of the National Peace Council, Rev Professor Emmanuel Asante noted that the media had a crucial role to play in ensuring and assuring peace in the country during the polls, adding that those who control the media can be assumed to control the state. This according to him is only to point though, out of the powerful role of the media in the socio-ecological process.
He particularly touched on what he called ‘biased journalism’, urging media practitioners against indulging in the practice while urging the fraternity to instead focus on providing accurate information to get their listeners well-informed.
On his part, Professor Kwame Karikari, Former Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa also said the forum was important because it was organized by the Independent Media Association. He pointed out that in Ghana, about 63% of the population depended on the radio as their greatest source of information and news while the television came second with 25% of the Ghanaian population depending on it for information.
He also called on owners or operators of broadcast media outlets to bear a great responsibility in ensuring that the service provided by each media house is of the highest standard. To him, the media has a big influence on society especially in political matters and the media’s role is counted as one of the most powerful tools in a democratic society.
He opined that elections without the media are unimaginable, noting that there will be chaos in our society if the media exempts itself from our political system.
At the end of the day, media practitioners present at the event showed their resolve and commitment to heed the call for responsible election coverage.
Source: ritefmonline.org
