The Electoral Commission (EC) has begun a nationwide intensive media capacity building on election reportage.
This is intended to avoid inaccurate media reportage during national elections.
[contextly_sidebar id=”1WXOlRwYnXRoQr7SoH3QGe3JoQx3p4bu”]About 50 journalists participated in the Northern Regional edition of the workshop held in Tamale where a Deputy national Chairman of the EC in charge of operations, Alhaji Sulley Amadu called for deeper collaboration between the commission and the media.
He tasked the media to develop keen interest in every step of the electoral processes.
Alhaji Sulley noted with deep concern that inaccurate reportage by some media houses has over the years created unnecessary tension and electoral violence in the country.
He therefore urged the media to always cross check their information with the EC to keep the populace accurately informed on the required protocols governing national elections.
He further impressed upon the media to stop creating inconvenience by abusing some electoral terms such as irregularities, rigging, and manipulation.
On electoral laws regulating the conduct of district level elections, he bemoaned voter apathy.
He attributed the situation to low publicity coupled with lack of concern on the part of the media.
Alhaji Sulley nonetheless commended the media for their contribution to nurturing the nation’s democratic credentials.
Northern Regional Director of the EC, Ayisi Bruce lauded the media’s highest level of cooperation.
He admitted that the contribution of the local media to voter education in the region was immeasurable.
Mr. Ayisi underscored the need for the media to persuade the voting populace to participate in the upcoming district assembly and unit committee elections scheduled for March 3, 2015.
Chairman of the Northern Regional chapter of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), Caesar Abagali condemned what he described as despondency exhibited by some Journalists during elections coverage.
He charged Journalists in the region to be guarded by ethics of the profession.
He recalled scenarios where some Journalists in the region during previous elections published falsehood to satisfy their political paymasters.
Caesar Abagali hinted his administration’s agenda to weed out imposters who have invaded the media landscape in the region.
He also advised event organizers to desist from patronizing the services of unaccredited Journalists.
The ongoing nationwide exercise dubbed, “Capacity building for the Ghanaian media in election reportage” is sponsored by the USAID.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/Citifmonline.com/Ghana