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The National Media Commission (NMC) has inaugurated a six-member Ashanti Regional Media Advisory Committee to ensure the protection and safety of journalists, especially during the election period.
Chaired by a former Chairman of the NMC and former President of the Ghana Bar Association, Paul Adu-Gyamfi, the committee is expected to settle complaints and engage the media on pressing issues to uphold the integrity and safety of journalism in the region.
Their mandate includes engaging the media on matters of concern as well as settling cases, promoting media responsibility, and combating disinformation, misinformation, and mal-information.
Members of the committee are Kwame Adinkra, General Manager of Pure FM in Kumasi; Mrs Olivia Owusu-Bannor, Headmistress of Effiduase Senior High School; Kingsley E. Hope, Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association, Ashanti; Mr Jonathan Frimpong, Head of the NMC Office, Kumasi; and Isaac Frimpong, Broadcast Journalist with Kumasi-based Orange FM.
The Chairman of the NMC, Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafo, who swore in the members here on Friday, called on journalists to cross-check and verify information from social media before broadcasting or publishing it.
He emphasised the dangers of spreading unverified information, stressing, “unverified information can lead to misinformation.”
He urged journalists to conduct independent research to stay informed and be able to challenge politicians making unsubstantiated claims.
“It is crucial for journalists to cross-check and verify the foundation of any information before disseminating it. Journalists must report and execute their work objectively with the facts, without allowing personal feelings or emotions to influence their reporting. This ensures the public can make well-informed decisions,” he added.
Ahead of the 2024 elections, Mr oadu-Ayeboafo urged media practitioners to remain professional, abide by the code of ethics, and avoid being used by politicians to champion their whims.
He pointed out that the NMC could not be everywhere at the same time; hence, the committee and the need for support from practitioners to make the committee work effectively.
“We give them our support. When we err and they draw attention to it, we will admit that we have erred and make the necessary corrections… There is no need for any ‘who born dog’… Where were you when we were in journalism school?”
Earlier, Executive Secretary of the NMC, George Sarpong, emphasised the importance of proper verification of information by journalists to avoid misleading their audiences with unverified information, which could cause chaos.
Media practitioners, he said, must be guided by the ethics of the profession, especially considering the crucial nature of the upcoming general elections, and he cautioned against the use of hate speech in the media.
The Executive Secretary also emphasised the importance of proper verification of information by journalists.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi thanked the NMC for “the honour done to the members” and pledged on behalf of the members to work assiduously to promote transparency in journalism in the region.
FROM KINGSLEY E. HOPE, KUMASI
