Deepen analysis of international news in Ghana

Tema July 24, GNA - A Communications Expert and Host of World Affairs on an Accra community radio, Class FM, says international news segments of most media outlets in Ghana is not extensive enough to generate public interest.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on Monday, Dr. Etse Sikanku observed that there was the need for a more in-depth and broad analysis of international news to allow Ghanaians and Africans appreciate what goes on around us.

Dr.Etse, who was also a lecturer at the School of Communications Studies, University of Ghana, said there was the need to present international news with an African perspective to allow the African appreciate international issues and contribute to them.

According to him, the Ghanaian had interest in international affairs 'just that the avenue is probably not there, because if you look on people's timelines, sometimes the issues going on in the US will be trending in Ghana. For instance the US elections, etc.'

He said there were few avenues for international news stories in Ghana on the various news media, and 'even if the avenue is there we don't dedicate a lot of time to it.'

He opined that constant consumption of foreign news would help improve the Ghanaian media landscape by diversifying the issues discussed making them richer adding, 'It also makes us educated and active participants in the international community.'

He observed that exposure to foreign news would help journalists to learn about how stories were covered in other parts of the world as 'it will expose Ghanaian media practitioners to media coverage in different ways.'

He stressed the need to fully adapt to western media best practices if 'we want to practice their kind of democracy and depart from ill practices that do not help our democracy'.

According to him, information could make a difference in terms of educating people and giving power and knowledge to people so they become aware and appreciate development practices across the world.

'It is information that could help Africa leap frog for instance or to jump. Once you know what other countries have gone through, it helps you to adapt better,' he said.

GNA

By Alexander Nyarko Yeboah, GNA