Journalists urged to expose wrongdoers

General Coordinator of Communications for Development and Advocacy Consult, Mr. Francis Ameyibor, has entreated journalists not to allow their personal opinions and preferences to influence their reportage during elections.

According to him, journalists must avoid wearing distinctive signs to indicate either a party or candidate affiliation.

Mr. Ameyibor gave the advice while addressing participants at a two-day workshop in Sunyani organised by the Legal Resource Centre for journalists from the Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti and the Eastern regions.

Themed; “Ensuring Peaceful Elections—the Role of the Media,” the event which was sponsored by the British High Commission was aimed at educating participants across the country on the role to play in peace-building towards election 2016 and beyond.

He said journalists had a role to play in monitoring elections to ensure transparency in the voting process and therefore, implored them to respect the electoral laws, rules and regulations whilst monitoring electoral activities.

That, according to Mr. Ameyibor, was premised on the premature announcement of unverified results that create unnecessary tension and trouble among supporters of different candidates.

He urged participants to refrain from publishing information that encouraged divisions and aggressive discussions to incite violence that would endanger social cohesion.

Brong-Ahafo Regional Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, Alhaji Suallah Abdallah Quandah, speaking on the topic: “The Role of the Media in Conflict Management and Peace-Building,” said the media’s role as the watchdog of the society was very vital to enhance democracy and responsible governance.

He said by their watchdog role, the media should expose electoral malpractices like vote buying by politicians and errors of omission by people in authority in their pursuit to cling to power.

He said the media’s watchdog role also enjoined them through their reportage to forewarn the general public, political parties and candidates on potential issues and events that had the propensity to cause violence.