Stop 'cosmetic' news analysis – Lecturer to media

Tanko Musah, a senior lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) says the media in West Africa and Ghana has been performing their duty creditably but still has a lot more to do in order to be able to successfully fulfill their mandate.

Mr Tanko believes the media must do more in critical analysis of national issues rather than the norm of engaging in “cosmetic and fanciful” analysis which are not in the general good for society. This stems from the fact that usually, very important issues are treated with little or no detail.

He insists that though good efforts are being made by the media in terms of news reports, in the matter of continuity and follow-up, they are lacking because very salient matters are ignored after being made prominent at the time of breaking the news.

Mr Musah further noted that the press in West Africa and Ghana need not to only be enjoying press freedom but economic freedoms as well. This is because, economic resources and money have a subtle way of affecting how the news is reported and whether it will be in the favour of the general public or a select few who own the economic resources.

He equally highlighted on the importance of the media to the growth and development of countries, particularly for those in Africa that subscribe to democracy as a model of governance.