MEDIA MUST WORK TO ENSURE PEACEFUL ELECTIONS – NMC

 
From Sebastian R. Freiku, Kumasi
 Media practitioners have been reminded of their sacred role to uphold the principle of truth and loyalty to the citizenry to ensure a functioning society.

The information journalists put across should be in the interest of the public and not to be merely interesting, Mr. Jonathan Frimpong, a representative of the National Media Commission (NMC) has advised.

He reminded the media practitioners during an Electoral Commission cum European Union sponsored capacity building training programme on reporting the presidential and parliamentary elections in Kumasi of the need to observe the provisions of Article 164 which borders on the limitation on rights and freedoms as well as Articles 162 and 163 which provides on National Security and Public Order.

Mr. Frimpong said in asserting his role the media practitioner should not compromise on professionalism and quality of reportage which he said must be fair, balanced, accurate, objective, neutral and verifiable.

He said reportage must lead to acceptance and legitimacy of the election results based on transparency and make democratic governance meaningful.

The NMC rep said peaceful elections depend on the media and admonished media practitioners to avoid hate speech as much as possible.

He said  the  role of media in ensuring peace  during the elections  was more pronounced in the  fact that not  even  the security  agencies  could guarantee  peaceful  elections  if the  media  relaxed in playing its traditional  role.

The Regional Director of EC, Mr. Serebour Quaicoe who treated the topic “Media and Elections”, noted that all that is needed this year is peace and that the media should be circumspect and cross facts in maintaining peace in Ghana, as a beacon of democracy.

Mr. Lucas Yiryel, Deputy Regional Director of EC, on the voting process said the “No Verification, No vote” clause had been repealed and amended by C. I. 94 and that a voter could be verified manually.

Mr. Lawrence Sarpong, also a deputy Regional Director took media practitioners through election officials and Nomination of candidates for presidential and parliamentary elections.