body-container-line-1
25.04.2012 Politics

Media Practitioners urged to be objective and accurate

25.04.2012 LISTEN
By GNA

Nkoranza (B/A), April 24, GNA – Mr Davis Boamah-Asumadu, Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ahenbronoso Care Foundation, a Techiman-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has urged media practitioners to be very objective and accurate in their reportage in this election year.

This he said would help avoid creating fear and panic among the people.

He stressed the need for media men to remain neutral since their involvement and special interest in the activities of a particular political party would make them lose the trust and confidence of the people.

Mr Boamah-Asumadu was speaking at a one day workshop on the relevance of Transparency, Accountability and Responsiveness in Ghana at Nkoranza, sponsored by STAR-Ghana.

The Techiman Civic Union, an NGO based at Techiman was a partner in the organisation of the workshop.

The participants included representatives of political parties, the media, security agencies, traditional authorities, religious leaders, the Electoral Commission (EC), National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Commission on Human Rights and Administration Justice (CHRAJ).

Mr Boamah-Asumadu advised media practitioners to respect the privacy of individuals and also not to carry out news items they had not properly investigated, saying that, anything short of that could create problems for themselves.

“Hearsay information is not the best source for any media practitioner to hide behind and report either in print or on radio”, he stated.

The Acting Chief Executive officer appealed to the youth of the various political parties to be disciplined and to guard against insults and provocative utterances that could create misunderstandings among the people.

He said such good practices would lead to violence-free political campaigning and peaceful and successful elections in December 2012.

The Reverend Peter Nketia, in-charge of Bethel Prayer Ministry International Church at Nkoranza, urged his colleague ministers of God to use the pulpit to preach unity, peace and understanding.

He advised reverend ministers not to be partial to any political party or show personal interest in their activities, since that could make them lose respect and confidence of their members.

He called on the youth not to allow themselves to be deceived by politicians to cause problems and confusion in their communities.

Nana Ankomah Agyei, President of the Brong-Ahafo Branch of the Ghana Psychic and Traditional Healers Association, who presided, advised politicians seeking power not to place their personal interests above the good will and development of the country.

He advised them not to take the people of Ghana “for a ride” by causing their followers to create problems that could affect the peace and stability of the country.

GNA

body-container-line