MFWA assemble journalists for a forum on media professionalism and their safety

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), with support from the Netherlands Embassy in Ghana, has build the capacity of journalists with the requisite professional knowledge to ensure their safety in the field of work.

The program, which was held at the Alisa in Hotel Accra on Thursday, July 28, was attended by over a hundred (100) participants.

Delivering the welcome address on behalf of Mr. Suleymana Braimah, the Executive Director for MFWA, was Miss Dora Mawutor, a member of MFWA, who reiterated the Foundation's interest in ensuring the safety of journalists.

She noted that they have made it so because of the critical role they (the journalists) play in the development of democracy in a country, particularly in electoral education and sensitization of government policies.

“Indeed, the issue of media professionalism and safety is of great concern to the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)... This is due to the media's central role in democracy, particularly in informing and educating the public about electoral processes and governance issues, as well as facilitating dialogues between officials and the public." But they can only perform these watchdog functions if they practice safely,” she stated.

The keynote address was delivered by Madam Fatima Abubakar, Deputy Information Minister, who mentioned the need to differentiate between content creators and journalists for the protection of the good image of the media.

"With digital evolution, a lot of practices mimic what journalists do. "It is, however, important for us to distinguish between journalists and content creators," she said.

She adds, "The government is not interested in shielding perpetrators of attacks against journalists."

Mr. Alexander Nii Katey Bannerman, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission (NMC), also raised a concern that "fluent local language speakers are employed by media houses without any form of training. This contributes to the worsening journalistic standards."

He also urged journalists to use their platforms to advocate for their rights and educate people about the importance of tolerating their work.

At the forum, ways of sustainably enhancing media professional standards in Ghana including the mode of dressing were discussed.

The forum was organized as part of MFWA's efforts to promote and protect media freedom as well as media professionalism in Ghana.

In attendance were the National Media Commission, Ghana Journalists Association, Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association, Ghana Community Radio Network, Private Newspaper Paper Publishers Association of Ghana, the Judiciary, security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations, and students from the Ghana Institute of Journalism, among others.